FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 21, 2006

MEDIA CONTACT:
ALC Communications
Phone: 410-679-2471
Email: alc-md@hotmail.com

AIDS LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

Public Forum to Focus on
HIV/AIDS Policy Issues and Governor's Race

On Wednesday, April 19, Maryland's AIDS Legislative Committee (ALC) presents "HIV & AIDS in Maryland: Making YOUR Vote Count," a public meeting in Baltimore to review Maryland's 2006 legislative session and to seek community input for a survey of candidates in this coming fall's race for the Governor. Co-sponsored by AIDS Action Baltimore (AAB), the meeting takes place from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the First & Franklin Presbyterian Church, 210 W. Madison Street at Park Avenue. Admission is free.

The ALC's lobbyist, Ann Ciekot of Binderman & Ciekot (also lobbyist for Equality Maryland), will present a report on HIV and AIDS issues that arose in the General Assembly during the 2006 Maryland legislative session.

"This past year the HIV/AIDS community faced numerous challenges in Annapolis," says Liza Solomon, DrPH, ALC Steering Committee Chair. "The ALC responded to budget proposals from the Governor's office that threatened to destabilize the Maryland AIDS Drug Assistance Program and to reduce staffing at the AIDS Administration. We also responded to threats to Maryland's confidential HIV reporting system and to concerns about the impact of changes in the Ryan White CARE Act on Maryland services. Community members and legislators alike have expressed concerns about a potential shift to names-based HIV reporting. The ALC will provide an update on these issues-and what we need to prepare for in the future."

Looking to that future, the ALC is to preparing a survey of candidates for Governor to determine their positions on issues of importance to people living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers. Following Ms. Ciekot's presentation, community activists will facilitate a public discussion to determine which HIV-related issues are of greatest concern to Marylanders.

"The communities most affected by HIV in Maryland are heterosexuals, women, and African Americans, as well as men who have sex with men," says Bernice Tucker, Executive Director of Women Accepting Responsibility (WAR), a Baltimore-based HIV prevention organization. Ms. Tucker is one of the facilitators for the meeting. "We hope that all affected communities will be well-represented at our forum. We need to know where this fall's candidates for Governor stand on issues like prevention programs for women, confidentiality for people living with HIV, funding for HIV medications, expansion of drug abuse prevention and treatment programs, healthcare access and HIV prevention in Maryland prisons, and other issues that affect our communities."

In addition to Ms. Tucker, facilitators include Gail Godwin, M.A., longtime HIV/AIDS activist, and David Haltiwanger, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Programs and Public Policy for Chase Brexton Health Services. Pastor Bertha Green of Sacred Zion Church, Inc., is planning to start the event with a blessing. All are members of the ALC Steering Committee. For more information, readers may contact the ALC at 410-576-5060, ext. 16, or write to alc-md@hotmail.com.

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The AIDS Legislative Committee (ALC) is an independent, non-profit advocacy organization representing Marylanders who are living with HIV/AIDS, their families, and their health care providers. For more information, contact the ALC at P.O. Box 41531, Baltimore, MD 21203-6531, by e-mail at alc-md@hotmail.com, or by phone at 410-679-2471 or 410-576-5070, ext 16. The ALC is supported by concerned citizens, AIDS activists, PWAs and their families and service providers and organizations, including:

AIDS Action Baltimore
AIDS Interfaith Residential Services (AIRS)
Black Educational AIDS Project (BEAP)
Chase-Brexton Health Services
Equality Maryland
Health Education Resource Organization (HERO)
Maryland Community Resource Center (MCRC)
Moveable Feast
Sacred Zion Church
Sisters Together and Reaching (STAR)
Whitman-Walker