Local Activists Take HIV Message to Congress

Every spring, hundreds of AIDS advocates from across the country travel to Washington, D.C., for two days to educate members of Congress and their staffers about the ongoing need for increased HIV/AIDS funding. These grassroots advocates share personal stories to help illustrate how seemingly abstract bills affect real people's access to health care and their quality of life.

Known simply as AIDSWatch, this is the largest annual constituent-based federal HIV/AIDS advocacy and education event in the U.S. While the official AIDSWatch agenda focuses on the continued demand for increased federal appropriations for domestic and global treatment, prevention, research, and housing, the real power of the event comes from congressional leaders hearing directly from people living with HIV.

These meetings allow legislators to learn first-hand how the legislation and appropriations in question affect their own constituents. AIDSWatch puts a human face to a decision that would otherwise be focused on budgets and numbers.

This year's AIDSWatch, held from April 22 to 25, drew more than 300 advocates from across the country, including nine from Northern California. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation has participated in this event since its inception and traditionally sends both staff members and clients, and provides resources for representatives from other Bay Area AIDS organizations to attend. This year the San Francisco AIDS Foundation sponsored clients from two of its signature programs, Black Brothers Esteem and El Grupo (Latino Support Group), as well as a client from CARES, a community-based health clinic in Sacramento.

Over the course of two days on Capitol Hill, the group met with most of the Northern California congressional delegation as well as with representatives from the offices of Senators Feinstein and Boxer. During these meetings, the clients spoke eloquently about their own experiences accessing AIDS services and how those services have made a difference in their lives.

In addition to these Hill visits, AIDSWatch advocates had the opportunity to attend a congressional briefing on Latinos and HIV/AIDS. Hosted by Bienestar with the support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Task Force, the briefing reviewed the increasing rates of HIV/AIDS among the Latino community and the need for a comprehensive approach to growing infection rates in this population. Topics such as substance abuse, mental health, lack of health insurance, cross-border issues, language and cultural barriers, and immigration reform and HIV exclusion were discussed.

"Issues of language, culture, and stigma are huge barriers to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment for many Latinos and Latinas in the United States, and immigration status keeps many people from accessing and maintaining--or even seeking out--treatment," said Jorge Zepeda, Manager of Latino Programs at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "Increasing the focus on Latino health issues is critical to lowering the disproportionate rate of infection and getting people the care they need."

The briefing also gave an opportunity for two California members, Representatives Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee, to present their respective initiatives addressing HIV/AIDS in prisons.

AIDSWatch 2007 proved to be a powerful experience for the advocates. In addition to learning more about federal policy, they were able to establish links with other people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS from across the country. Everyone gained strength from the work accomplished at AIDSWatch and agreed to continue to support HIV/AIDS resources at home with follow-up district visits and greater involvement in the state and local policy and budget processes. To join the HIV Advocacy Network, visit the SFAF Action Center.