Advocates Oppose Bloomberg’s Budget Plan To Slash Millions for HIV/AIDS Services LGBT New Yorkers Rely On
WHAT: Rally to draw attention to the harmful impact of Mayor Bloomberg’s agenda on low-income LGBT New Yorkers living with and affected impact by HIV/AIDS.
WHEN: Thursday, May 26th start at 12:30pm
WHO: LGBT leaders in VOCAL-NY
WHERE: 30 Cooper Square outside Cooper Union
WHY: Mayor Bloomberg’s HIV/AIDS budget and legislative agenda are damaging for LGBT New Yorkers.
Bloomberg’s Budget: Mayor Bloomberg’s final Executive Budget for FY12 doubled proposed funding cuts for supportive housing programs and calls for the elimination of a citywide nutrition and meals program for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS.
Bloomberg’s Agenda in Albany: Mayor Bloomberg’s opposition forced former Governor David Paterson to veto bipartisan legislation to prevent homelessness among low-income people living with HIV/AIDS that would have ensured those already eligible for rental assistance pay no more than 30 percent of their disability income towards rent.
HIV/AIDS & LGBT New Yorkers: Half of all New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS are LGBT, with HIV rates rising among young gay men of color…. Structural inequalities… Mayor Bloomberg’s administration has been criticized for promoting ads that perpetuate HIV/AIDS stigma and homophobia, however, and for failing to take advantage of structural interventions that would address underlying drivers.
Contact: Sean Barry, 646.373.3344, sean@vocal-ny.org
###
Press Release
