Transcript Our Story of AIDS A threat no one dared face. A word no one wanted to speak. A fight for many, fought by few.

Our Story of AIDS
A threat no one dared face.
A word no one wanted to speak.
A fight for many,
fought by few.
Our Story of AIDS…
1959 Earliest case of HIV confirmed.
“It all began for meHIV
in 1982
a few samples
gay friends. I've lost many
foundwith
in blood
friends and "patients". Unfortunately,
there are fewer and fewer of
of an African man.
us with the history.”
1969 First known
case in Yale
the U.S.
June Holmes,
New Haven Hospital
A teen prostitute with HIV and Kaposi's Sarcoma dies.
Our Story of AIDS…
1981
“AIDS is not just God’s punishment for homosexuals; it is
God’s punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals.”
Reverend Jerry Falwell
“We saw a young gay man with the most devastating immune deficiency
Curran
of theWe
CDC
said,
best
evidence
against
contagion
we"Dr.
have
ever seen.
said
‘We'The
don’t
know
what this
is, but
we hopeiswe
thatever
no cases
have been
outside the homosexual community
don’t
see another
likereported
it again.’”
or in women'"
Dr.The
Samuel
the first
time he saw a patient with AIDS.
New Brode,
York Times
1981
"Gay cancer," later called GRID (Gay Related Immunodeficiency)
152 cases reported in the U.S.; 128 are dead.
Our Story of AIDS…
1982
“When it began turning up in children and transfusion recipients,
Over
that was
andaover,
turning
these
point
menincry
terms
outof
against
publicthe
perception.
weight ofUp
so until
manythen
losses
until
it wasitaseems
gay epidemic,
that AIDSand
is all
it was
there
easy
is and
for all
thethere
average
everperson
will be.
to say
'So what?' Now everyone could relate.”
Jane Gross
Harold Jaffe, CDC
Our Story of AIDS…
1983
Hartford’s Gay and
Lesbian Health
Collective and
AIDS Project New
Haven founded.
Our Story of AIDS…
1984
100,000 lesbians and gays march at the
Democratic Convention to demand
an increase in federal AIDS spending.
Our Story of AIDS…
1985
14-year old Ryan White,
diagnosed with AIDS at 13, is
barred from attending school.
Rock Hudson dies of AIDS.
Our Story of AIDS…
1986
In February, the AIDS Coalition to
Unleash Power (ACT UP) is founded. In
March, their first mass demonstration
was held on Wall Street.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt is started in
San Francisco.
Alliance for Living (Southeastern CT
AIDS Project) founded.
Our Story of AIDS…
1987
After 7 years, President Reagan mentions AIDS.
Vice President Bush calls for mandatory HIV testing.
20 states introduce bills to ban PWAs from food-handling
and educational jobs, and force testing of prostitutes.
Several pass.
The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) is initiated.
Stewart B. McKinney Foundation founded.
59,572 reported AIDS cases; 27,909 are dead.
Our Story of AIDS…
1987
The Ray family is burned out of their home to keep
their 3 HIV positive sons out of school.
AIDS Project Greater Danbury and Mid-Fairfield
AIDS Project founded.
Eight days after the ACT-UP demonstration, the FDA
announced new regulations to speed drug approval.
Our Story of AIDS…
1988
Surgeon General C. Everett Koop
sends AIDS information to all U.S.
households calling for AIDS
education for children of all ages, and
urges widespread use of condoms.
Our Story of AIDS…
1989
Center City Churches began a scattered site program;
St. Luke’s Community Services opened the McKinney
Residence;
CARP (now Liberty Community Services) started a
residential program; and …
Our Story of AIDS…
1989
The CT AIDS Residence Coalition incorporated.
Diane Randall hired as the first Executive Director.
Our Story of AIDS…
1990
The Ryan White CARE ACT passes authorizing $881million.
Congress only appropriates $350 million.
American AIDS deaths pass the 100,000 mark — nearly twice the number
of Americans who died in Vietnam. 1,400 were from Connecticut.
New Haven’s Syringe Exchange Program begins.
Our Story of AIDS…
1990
Mercy House opens.
St. Philip House, New Haven
Home Recovery, and Catholic
Family Services open scattered
site housing programs.
Our Story of AIDS…
1991
Protesters interrupt CT AIDS awards
A ceremony honoring people for their work in the fight against
AIDS was disrupted by AIDS activists who shouted down DPH
Commissioner Susan S. Addiss.
Paco Martinez-Cancel, Rudolph Nureyev, Arthur Ashe, Randy Shilts
and Pedro Zamora died.
The group was angry at the department’s proposal to institute
mandatory names reporting of those who test positive.
"No names, treatment now!" they chanted, and then members filed
out as Capitol police moved behind them.
Our Story of AIDS…
1991
Bread & Roses, Helping
Hand and Tabor House begin
housing programs.
Our Story of AIDS…
1992
After a court battle, McKinney House, Fairfield opens.
Bill Clinton is the first president whose campaign
platform contains HIV/AIDS issues, including
appointing a national AIDS "czar."
Federal Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
(HOPWA) program created and funded.
CT receives $433,000.
Bill Sabella, CT’s first AIDS Director, dies due to AIDS.
Lucie McKinney
and Gary Smith
Our Story of AIDS…
1993
Perception Programs opens Omega House.
1995
Leeway opens the first skilled nursing
facility for PWAs in CT.
New Opportunities scattered site
housing program begins.
Prospect House starts a program for
PWHIV/AIDS in the shelter.
Our Story of AIDS…
1996
The White House announced its first-ever AIDS strategy.
"None of us can afford to sit by and watch this epidemic continue to take
our neighbors, friends and loved ones.“
President Bill Clinton
Our Story of AIDS…
It is estimated that, 29.4 million
people are currently living with
HIV/AIDS
in visit
Sub-Saharan
During
his last
to AfricaAfrica.
the
Pope
told
not to use
There
arehis
13audience
million children
condoms.
orphaned by AIDS worldwide, 10
million live in Africa.
Our Story of AIDS…
1997
For the first time since 1981,
the number of AIDS-related deaths
dropped substantially across the US.
"The decline in deaths leaves more people
living with HIV/AIDS. …We still need
programs that assure access to treatment and
care for infected people."
Dr John Ward
Our Story of AIDS…
1997
Chrysalis Center,
HRA/Someplace Special,
McKinney Shelter and
Prospect House begin AIDS
housing programs.
Our Story of AIDS…
1998
The Clinton Administration refuses to
lift a 10-year ban on using federal
funds for needle exchange programs.
Clarence Daniels dies.
2000
The Immaculate Conception
Shelter, Columbus House,
Independence Northwest, and
Zezzo House begin AIDS housing
programs.
Our Story of AIDS…
2002
40,000
501,669
886,575
new
Diagnosed
deaths
HIV
infections
with AIDS
each year.
The Bush Administration removes Condom Fact
Sheets from the HHS Website.
After much protest, revised Condom Fact Sheets
that downplay their effectiveness are reposted.
CT DPH institutes names reporting for HIV.
Our Story of AIDS…
CT AIDS Awareness Days, 2001 - 2004
Our Story of AIDS…
2004
Connecticut:
 Ranks 14th in the nation,
 Has the fastest growing rate of AIDS in New England,
 Has nearly twice the national rates among women, latinos/as and
injecting drug users,
 80% of people requesting housing are turned away because there’s
not enough space,
 With one exception, all AIDS line items have been flat funded or cut
over the past three years.
 In Connecticut, 13,844 cases reported; 6,954 deaths
AIDS is
still a
crisis
Our Story of AIDS…
The House Appropriations Committee
recommended cutting the HUD budget.
HOPWA’s cut is $13 million.
President Bush’s budget, included modest
increases for two AIDS programs; all other
HIV/AIDS programs received decreased or
level funding.
Our Story of AIDS…
A deep feeling of gratitude
to all who paved the way;
to you who were brave when no one else dared;
to all who were there from the beginning and are still around;
to those who’ve joined us along the way;
and especially to those who died fighting.
We miss you and promise to stay the course.
Our Story of AIDS…
Our Story of AIDS…
All I want is a cure and my friends back.