A Catholic priest offers a prayer at the start of the 32nd annual Noche de las Memorias ceremony at The Wall Las Memorias in Lincoln Park on World AIDS Day Dec. 1. U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters called out President Donald Trump for refusing to commemorate World AIDS Day this year.
Photo by Lorenzo Gomez
Wave Staff and Wire Reports
LOS ANGELES — U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters went after President Donald Trump again this week, criticizing the president’s refusal to commemorate World AIDS Day, which is celebrated every year on Dec. 1.
Waters said she was outraged by the president’s decision.
“World AIDS Day is a day to remember the millions of people around the world who have died of AIDS and demonstrate our continuing support for people living with AIDS and our commitment to stopping the spread of HIV,” Waters said in a statement released by her office. “World AIDS Day has been recognized by presidents of both political parties, including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and even Trump during his first term.
“Yet this year, in an appalling abdication of America’s leadership, the State Department instructed employees and grantees to ‘refrain from publicly promoting World AIDS Day through any communication channels, including social media, media engagements, speeches or other public-facing messaging.’”
Waters said Trump’s callous disregard of the global AIDS pandemic is threatening progress against the disease. She said he also halted funds for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — known throughout the world as PEPFAR — which was created in 2003 under the leadership of former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, the co-founder of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, working with President George W. Bush, myself, and congressional HIV/AIDS advocates from both political parties.
“Here in the United States — where I created the Minority AIDS Initiative to address devastating HIV/AIDS disparities, which has grown from an initial appropriation of $156 million in 1999 to more than $400 million per year today — Donald Trump is waging an all-out war on people living with HIV,” Waters added. “Trump’s budget proposal completely eliminated HIV prevention funding at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and slashed funds for Ryan White AIDS care and HIV research.
“In honor of World AIDS Day, we must rededicate ourselves to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS, caring for those who are infected, and searching for a cure,” she continued. “We must never give up until we put an end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic once and for all.”
While the Trump administration declined to commemorate World AIDS Day this year, various events will take place around Los Angeles County to mark the 38th annual event — including an evening of reflection in West Hollywood, a commemorative event at the Latino community in East Hollywood and various local monuments being illuminated in red.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health marked the 38th annual World AIDS Day by partnering with cities and organizations to illuminate landmarks across the county in red, which serves as a way to show solidarity and raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, as part of the annual campaign.
Among the landmarks illuminated in red Dec. 1 were BMO Stadium, the Cal State Northridge Library, Capitol Records in Hollywood, Los Angeles City Hall, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Union Station, the Natural History Museum of LA County, the Paramount Studios Water Tank, the Queen Mary, the Rose Bowl and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
“We honor the strength of those living with HIV/AIDS and all who work tirelessly to provide HIV prevention and support for our community,” county Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement.
“While recent federal funding reductions present challenges to the essential services needed by individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, we will continue to work with our partners to protect HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and treatment services for all people who live in Los Angeles County,” Ferrer added.
Approximately 56,000 people with HIV live in L.A. County, and an estimated 1,400 new HIV infections are reported each year, according to the Department of Public Health.
More cases are seen among gay men, African Americans, Latino and transgender individuals. Latino people with HIV and young people with HIV are disproportionately unaware of their HIV-positive status.
Among women with HIV in L.A. County, a disproportionate number of cases are found among Black and transgender women. The Department of Public Health encouraged everyone to learn more about HIV, know their status, and, if appropriate, access free and low-cost life-saving medications and services.
“To advance HIV prevention and care, we need to keep working closely with our community partners and leaders at every level to remove barriers and make essential clinical and social services easier to access,” said Sonali Kulkarni, medical director of the county’s Division of HIV and STD Programs.
“The landmarks lighting red on World AIDS Day reflect that shared commitment and remind us that when we, the care and support people rely on, are within reach, everyone benefits,” Kulkarni added.
The 32nd annual Noche de las Memorias in Lincoln Park included family testimonials, music, prayer and the unveiling of newly inscribed names at The AIDS Monument during a candlelight ceremony. The event highlighted “the urgent need to restore HIV testing, prevention and education services after recent federal funding cuts,” organizers said.
In West Hollywood, the first World AIDS Day gathering at STORIES: The AIDS Monument honored lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses and uplifted the voices of those living with HIV and AIDS. The monument in West Hollywood Park was unveiled Nov. 16.
