After 22 Years, HIV Travel and Immigration Ban Lifted

“The United States of America has moved one step closer to helping combat the stigma and ignorance that still too often guides public policy debates around HIV/AIDS,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

Washington, DC – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, hailed the announcement that a ban on HIV positive visitors and immigrants entering the country, first established in 1987, has been lifted.  A regulation promulgated by the Obama administration last summer and finalized in November goes into effect today, removing HIV from the list of communicable diseases that bar foreign nationals from entering the United States.

AIDS advocates call on governor to fully fund California’s ADAP

30,000 Walkers Raise Millions at 25th Annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles

Hollywood's Elite and Special Guests Join 30,000 Participants to Make AIDS History.

Los Angeles, CA-- The 25th annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles (AWLA) commemorated a quarter-century of activism with massive attendance and strong fundraising results for this year's event, which was held today in West Hollywood Park.

"Thirty thousand participants, and their tens of thousands of sponsors, demonstrated today as they did 25 years ago, that through good times and bad, the AIDS Walk is still a steadfast source of fundraising and awareness in its decades-long campaign to make AIDS history," said Craig R. Miller, founder and producer of the event. "Today, we owe a deep debt of gratitude to everyone who walked, and to all who sponsored them, for raising $3,146,206 for the life-saving work of AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). Once again, this powerful community has demonstrated its determination to keep moving forward in the fight against HIV."

Since its inception, AWLA has raised more than $66 million for APLA and dozens of other Los Angeles County HIV/AIDS service organizations.

"A crippling $85 million cut to California's HIV/AIDS budget means that the generosity of our closest friends is as important as it has ever been," said Craig E. Thompson, Executive Director of AIDS Project Los Angeles. "The city that held the first AIDS Walk now faces an unprecedented challenge in delivering vital care and prevention programs to those who need them most. Government has failed us, but the people who took to the streets today have not."

Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks co-founder, APLA board member, and AWLA sponsor, spoke on behalf of APLA.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land spoke about the current HIV/AIDS crisis in Los Angeles and about the importance of the community's response. In addition, Jeffrey Crowley, President Obama's Director of the office of National AIDS Policy, spoke about the national AIDS strategy.

Celebrities and notable figures at today's events included "Desperate Housewives'" Felicity Huffman, Kathryn Joosten, Charlie Carver, and Maiara Walsh; "Weeds'" Mary-Louise Parker; "Battlestar Gallactica's" Trica Helfer and Katee Sackhoff; "General Hospital's" Julie Marie Berman, Sonya Eddy, Fiola Hughes, Kent King, Kimberly McCullough, Minae Noji, and Jason Thompson; "Girls Next Door's" Crystal Harris, Kristina and Karissa Shannon; Aaron Carter ("Dancing with the Stars"); Candis Cayne ("Dirty Sexy Money"); Wilson Cruz ("He's Just Not That Into You"); Maria Da Silva ("CNN Hero" Award Recipient); Lashinda Demus (Olympian Hurdler and 2009 USA Outdoor Champion); La Toya Jackson; Ricki Lake ("Charm School with Ricki Lake"); Pauley Perrette ("NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigation Service"); Ashley Roberts ("Pussycat Dolls"); Daniela Ruah ("NCIS: Los Angeles"); Darryl Stephens ("Noah's Arc"); Boo Boo Stewart ("The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"). Also, Zelda Rubinstein ("Poltergeist") and George Takei ("Star Trek"), who both attended the first AIDS Walk, were present at today's milestone event.

Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young ("Jersey Boys") closed the Opening Ceremony with his performance of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone."

A Post-Walk Reception commemorating 25 years of AIDS Walk was attended by the event's strongest partners and was held just steps from the finish line at Wolfgang Puck's at the Pacific Design Center. Hosted by Teri Hatcher ("Desperate Housewives"), guests enjoyed refreshments and an art installation with historical AIDS Walk photographs and memorabilia as top supporters were recognized for their contribution to the AIDS Walk's success.

Post-Walk Reception attendees included San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Mayor Land, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Hatcher, Mr. Stephens, and other celebrities, along with APLA leaders and AIDS Walk Founder and Producer, Craig Miller.

The corporate community continued to show its strong support for the event through team fundraising and corporate sponsorship. This year's Presenting Sponsor was The Hilton Family of Hotels. Grand Sponsors included Anthem Blue Cross of California, The David Geffen Foundation, Latham & Watkins LLP, KNBC/Telemundo, Paramount Pictures, and Paul Hastings LLP. Principal Sponsors were Macy's, Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg, Nordstrom, and the Pacific Design Center.

For more information, please visit aidswalk.net/losangeles.

AIDS Project Los Angeles: AIDS Project Los Angeles, one of the largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States, provides bilingual direct services, prevention education and leadership on HIV/AIDS-related policy and legislation. With more than 25 years of service, APLA is a community-based, volunteer-supported organization with local, national and global reach. For more information, visit apla.org.

AIDS Walk Los Angeles: The world's first such event, AIDS Walk Los Angeles was created in 1985 and has raised more than $66 million for HIV programs and services throughout Los Angeles County. The event launched the nationwide AIDS Walk movement and has grown into one of the largest AIDS fundraising events in the country. Over 25 years, more than a half million participants, many of whom were members of corporate and community teams, have raised crucial funds for AIDS Project Los Angeles and over a dozen other AIDS service organizations. For more information, visit aidswalk.net.

About MZA Events: MZA Events was founded in 1984 by Craig R. Miller and his organization of activists. Miller is the originator of the AIDS Walk fundraising model and has produced hundreds of fundraising events – large and small – generating more than $350 million for major AIDS organizations throughout the country and the communities they serve. For more information, please visit mzaevents.com.

At Least 77 Countries Promote Syringe Exchange, GMHC Report Says