As we struggle with all the issues in a world of war, peace, hunger, marriage equality, healthcare, etc, lets not forget the rapidly changing face of the HIV/AIDS crisis. In many ways, we have so institutionalized HIV/AIDS, we think everything is in place. Over the years with promising treatments there has been a sense of urgency lost. In some ways, that was justified after coming out of the holocaust of the late 1980's and early 1990's. The overwhelming sense of relief that HIV/AIDS was not an immediate death sentence enabled people to finally let their guard down. Too soon.

The situation with HIV/AIDS care, treatment, prevention and protection has changed dramatically over the last couple of months and it demands attention. Just look at the facts:

-Obama failed to include Needle Exchange in the budget. That means thousands more will be infected and some will actually die because of the policy. Being against needle exchange now is like being against condom use in the 1980's - nonsensical. Exchange is simply a sane and wise health prevention policy.
-Because of the budget crisis, many prevention and education programs are being cut just as we are seeing an increase of HIV/AIDS among young people, especially minorities.
-Funding for drugs and ADAP funding are being cut in numerous states and we are beginning to see that people don't automatically have access to promising therapies as in the past. This is a dangerous cutback that could have grave ramifications for people with HIV/AIDS.
-With the reform of healthcare, we are not heavily involved in the process and we could end up with healthcare reform that makes very difficult the unique cocktail combinations that are required for treatment of HIV/AIDS.

This is the tip of the iceberg and these issues could end up causing another unbelievably serious HIV/AIDS emergency. We fought hard for these three principles:

-Everyone should have access to promising drug therapies.
-The treatment decisions for HIV/AIDS should be solely between doctor and patient.
-Everyone should be protected from discrimination, have access to treatment, care and promising therapies in the quickest way safely possible.

We are in danger of losing all that hard work. The people who got arrested this past week in the Rotunda reminded us all that a lot is at stake right now. Let's not forget HIV/AIDS