Viewpoint by Jordan Palmer, Kentucky Equality Federation

Since the termination of the Kentucky AIDS Assistance Program (action alert), people living with HIV/AIDS are in need of assistance today more than ever.

After eight years of the Bush Administration, who didn’t want condoms available at high schools, and wanted sex education curtailed, HIV cases are on the rise again across the United States.

Perhaps that is the biggest mistake we have made; depending on the government to teach our children about HIV/AIDS, or we have gotten so accustom to hearing about it, we no longer believe it is a problem.

• Kentucky has even gone so far as to declare a health crisis for the Black Community. (source)
• Every 9 minutes and 30 seconds someone is infected with HIV in the United States.
• According to the CDC, more than one-fourth (28%) of all AIDS cases among men in the United States occurred through injection drug use and heterosexual sexual contact.
• In the 42 U.S. states with confidential name-based HIV infection reporting, women (adults and adolescents) were 30% of new HIV infections.

HIV/AIDS is special to the GLBT community…… during the initial outbreak our community was the one hit hardest by it.  HIV/AIDS was once called “The Gay Cancer.”   To remember how far we have come with people thinking homosexuality is a disease, Lexington Fairness has a fascinating article called “Treating Gay.”  You will have to scroll down the page to find it, but it’s a great article.

World Aids Day – Contribute to AVOL

With December 1st being World Aids Day, I can think of no better way to contribute to the Worldwide event than to make a donate to AVOL, or attend their Red Ribbon Ball on December 5th at The Red Mile in Lexington.

AVOL (AIDS Volunteers, Inc.) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides services to those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as HIV prevention education & outreach to 72 counties in central, eastern, and southeastern Kentucky.

AVOL’s Assistance

Click here!

AVOL’s Direct Client Services Program provides assistance to HIV people in central, eastern, and southeastern Kentucky.  AVOL assistance kicks in when government and other community resources have been exhausted.

AVOL’s assistance includes basic things needed for human survival such as Rent, Utilities, Food, Volunteer help, Transportation, Prescription Co-pays, Personal and Household Items, and Substance Abuse Referrals.

AVOL also assists clients with emergency, transitional, and permanent housing solutions:

1. Rainbow Apartments are transitional housing units for those who are HIV positive and homeless or imminently homeless. The complex also includes a short-term unit for those traveling to Lexington for medical care who are in need of overnight lodging. Rainbow Apartments’ primary purpose is to help individuals stabilize their situation and transition back out into the community and into permanent housing.
2. Solomon House is a seven bedroom community residence providing assisted living for persons with AIDS. This program seeks to provide a home-like atmosphere and caring environment for each of the residents while meeting the individual daily living needs of each person. There is a nursing assistant on staff at all times, and a full-time house manager for case management oversees the program on site. Volunteers are available to provide transportation and companionship to the residents.

Information Sites:

• United Nations – World Health Organization
• United Nations AIDS (UNAIDS)
• Commonwealth of Kentucky – Cabinet for Health and Human Services – Department for Public Health – AIDS Branch
• Kentucky Special Report: Blacks in Kentucky, a Health Crisis