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On November 20, as I joined up with many AIDS activists I have worked with at various points over the past four years, one friend greeted me with a hug and the exclamation which became the title of this post-- "First AIDS rally of the Obama era!"
After eight long years of the Bush Administration and failed HIV prevention policies at home and abroad-- abstinence-only sex education, the federal ban on needle exchange, the lack of a National AIDS Strategy, the anti-prostitution loyalty oath (unfortunately, I could go on)-- the AIDS activist community really did have reason to be excited.
Nearly 1,000 people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS and their allies gathered to enact a prelude to President-elect Obama's January 20 inauguration, binding him to the commitments he has made to promote effective policies to prevent HIV and to provide testing, treatment and care both domestically and internationally.
The tone of this rally, different from every other I had attended in Washington prior to this November 4, was not one of anger and demands but one of hope and a commitment on the part of the community to support President-elect Obama in what will be an uphill battle to turn his promises into policies. Those gathered wore winter hats and stickers which read HOPE-- Obama's logo was the featured O with an AIDS ribbon encircling it. As we marched from McPherson Square to the White House, we chanted "Si se puede! Yes we can!"
Just last year on World AIDS Day, 40 activists were arrested in front of the White House in protest of the Bush Administration's harmful policies. This year, we chanted the rally's target's campaign slogan.
But there was still a call for accountability and reform.
While we know the President-elect has a lot on his plate, it is also our job to make sure that the needs of those living with HIV and of those lacking effective HIV prevention tools remain on it. We need a National AIDS Strategy. We need to reform PEPFAR, our global AIDS plan, as well. We know it won't happen overnight, but that doesn't mean we're going to stop talking about it.
One speaker summed it up well by saying "We're here to tell Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and the incoming Congress that they are not alone. And that we will not leave them alone."
Hopeful. But still persistant.
I, for one, am very interested to see what comes next.
Article and video from the Washington Blade and a lovely account of the rally from a friend at CHAMP.
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