World AIDS Day 2010

December 1st is World AIDS Day and is an opportunity to educate and create awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The theme for this year is Universal Access and Human Rights in an effort to demand that all people have access to preventative resources and life saving medications.



HIV can be transmitted through anal, vaginal, and oral sex, and through the use of dirty and/or used needles. HIV can be transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal secretions, pre-ejaculate, and breast milk. Please always make sure to use protection, via condoms, female condoms, and dental dams for oral-genital contact.

Action tips for the day:

-Wear a red ribbon to support AIDS awareness.

-Educate yourself about HIV/AIDS.

-Get tested for HIV/AIDS and other STI's.

-Discuss HIV/AIDS with others, urge them to get tested and learn more.

Word of the Gay: "HIV-phobia"

"HIV-phobia" is the irrational fear or hatred of people living with HIV.

Your Support Can Help End HIV

Dr. Sudhir Paul of the Covalent Immunology Foundation offers a promising new vaccine that potentially eradicates HIV in the human blood through an enzyme that interacts with the virus. The study needs to go into the next phase of research which involves testing. They want to make this vaccine affordable and accessible to the public if it is successful.



Help take the research into the next phase at End HIV.

National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (9.27.09)

Today is the second annual National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day put together by the National Association of People With AIDS. NGMHAAD is an opportunity to focus resources and attention to the alarming rate of new infections among gay and bisexual men, particularly those in communities of color where resources are severely lacking.

NGMAHAD's goals are to 1) raise awareness about HIV/AIDS among gay men, 2) encourage HIV testing, early diagnosis and linkage to care, 3) promote better understanding of the complex factors that drive HIV transmission among gay men, and 4) obtain broad based support to acquire needed public and private resources and sound governmental policies to prevent new infections among gay men and to provide treatment for gay men living with HIV/AIDS.

* Fifty-three percent of new HIV infections occurred among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 2006

* From 2001 – 2006, men who have sex with men (MSM) across all racial and ethnic groups were the only transmission category with significant increases in HIV diagnoses

* HIV incidence has been increasing steadily among gay and bisexual men since the early 1990s, consistent with increases in risk behavior, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and HIV diagnoses among MSM

* Gay men comprise over half of the total number of total HIV/AIDS cases in the United States

* More than 500,000 gay men of all colors have died in the United States. (NAPWA).

Fact sheet for National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Help out by blogging, using widgets, or banners on your own site to promote the day.

Tell the CDC to Lift HIV Travel Ban

The plan by the federal government to lift a ban on HIV positive foreigners coming into the United States is close to being approved. If the ban is repealed it would allow people with HIV/AIDS to travel or apply for immigration within the country. Currently HIV testing is mandated for those requesting permanent residency, and in some instances the granting of a visa.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are seeking public comment through Aug. 17 on the proposal.

Radio Host "Gunny" Inflames Anti-HIV & Homophobic Wound

Just a few days ago "Gunny" Bob Newman made the outrageous and unsubstantiated claim that allowing openly gay service members will increase HIV/AIDS in the military. GLAAD issued an action alert demanding that the radio station Mr. Newman works for KOA-AM and Clear Channel Communications reprimand him.

Colorado Media Matters points out that this time, Newman posted a "poll" on his KOA web page, asking listeners to choose between an “unmarried 25-year-old openly serving gay man” and a “25-year-old married heterosexual with two kids” as the source for a hypothetical battlefield blood transfusion.

The action alert is still alive and well. Please contact if you haven't done so, and please re-contact over the new appalling info if you have done so last time.

Contact:

KOA-AM

Mr. Lee Larsen
Vice President & General Manager
KOA-AM
Outlet Phone: (303) 713-8000
Email: leelarsen@clearchannel.com

Ms. Kristine Olinger
Director of AM Programming
KOA-AM
Outlet Phone: (303) 713-8000
Email: kristineolinger@clearchannel.com

Clear Channel Communications

Ms. Kathryn Johnson
Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations
Clear Channel Communications
Outlet Phone: (210) 822-2828
Email: kathrynmaysjohnson@clearchannel.com

Ms. Lisa Dollinger
Chief Communications Officer
Clear Channel Communications
Outlet Phone: (210) 822-2828
Email: lisacdollinger@clearchannel.com

If you choose to email Bob Newman himself he can be reached at bobnewman@850koa.com