June 9, 2008 |
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Krishna Stone, 212.367.1016
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Gay Men's Health Crisis Releases City Policy Agenda
Calls for Expanded Prevention, Treatment and Housing Services
Click here to download a print ready copy of the 2008 Gay Men's Health Crisis City Policy Agenda (PDF).
New York, NY/June 9, 2008—Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) released its City Policy Agenda on Monday, highlighting legislative and budgetary policy items for the New York City Council to address.
HIV is still ravaging communities and challenging policymakers in New York. GMHC is concerned with the epidemic's burgeoning impact on young gay men and young women, particularly in black and Latino communities. Even though new infections in New York City have decreased overall in the past few years, young men who have sex with men (MSM) in the city experienced a 33% increase in HIV incidence from 2001 to 2006. Black and Latino MSM make up 77% of new HIV infections in young MSM in New York City.
In addition, new HIV infections among females ages 13-29 increased 6% from 2005 to 2006 in NYC. One in four teenage girls nationally is infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD); one in two African American young women has an STD. The City needs to do more to promote sexual health among young people.
"Gay Men's Health Crisis will continue to steadfastly advocate for the healthcare needs and civil rights of all people living with HIV/AIDS," said Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GMHC. "The prevention of HIV transmission, access to housing and other essential services, and the full realization of civil rights for all are the cornerstones of our New York City policy recommendations."
GMHC's city agenda highlights the policy changes that would most significantly impact the increasing incidence of HIV in our most vulnerable populations, and would relieve some of the burdens felt by New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. The top priorities include:
- Decreasing new HIV infections in communities of color, especially among young men who have sex with men (MSM) and young women, by providing targeted resources.
- Improving the City Council funding process to allow more timely and effective use of discretionary funding for HIV prevention and outreach in communities of color.
- The expansion of sex education and gay-affirming interventions with youth in public schools.
- The passage of HASA for All, which would allow more HIV-positive New Yorkers to obtain stable housing.
Click here to download a print ready copy of the 2008 Gay Men's Health Crisis City Policy Agenda (PDF).
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Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. We provide services and programs to over 15,000 men, women and families that are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City, and outreach and education to hundreds of thousands throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.gmhc.org.
© 2008 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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