Today is World AIDS Day, an international day of cooperation in the fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS. For-profit businesses fundraise alongside non-profits, vigils remember those lost, charity organizations put out messages reminding the public that the fight to support 34 million people living with the virus is ongoing, and we’re asking you to engage your passive aggressive side that helped flood Planned Parenthood with over 50,000 donations in Vice President-elect Mike Pence’s name.
Seriously, who said being bitter never did anyone any good?
Now, you’re likely well aware of how Pence wanted to redirect money from the Ryan White Care Act, which provided assistance to those living with HIV/AIDS, into conversion therapy. And while there are arguments to be made for behavioral approaches to preventing the spread of HIV, it’s safe to say this one’s more than a bit over the top.
So, in that giving holiday spirit, let’s try to make headlines tomorrow with how many people stepped up to the plate, dug their heels in, and gave Mike Pence the most beautiful middle finger of all: a tax-deductible donation to the organizations he funadmentally can't agree with.
amFar
amFar began the fight to end the global AIDS epidemic through research in 1985, and has since invested $450 million in research programs and awarded over 3,300 grants to global research teams. With its $100 million Countdown to a Cure for AIDS initiative, the organization hopes to develop the scientific basis for a cure by 2020, according to its website. Donate here, and make sure to change your name to Mike Pence!
AIDS United
AIDS United focuses on the AIDS epidemic in the United States through policy and advocacy work, financial and technical support for community-based organizations, and through their extensive and longstanding grantmaking process that has given more than $75 million to local communities, according to its website. Want your dollars to stay within the states? Donate here.
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
For a program that specifically benefits children and mothers, check out the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, which has provided services accessed by over 25.6 million pregnant women in over 16 countries. According to the foundation's data visualization tool, it currently has 841,227 adults and 62,494 children on anti-retroviral treatments and has provided life-saving anti-retroviral vaccinations to 1,689,671 women, avoiding a calculated 31,050 infections. Donate here.
Elton John AIDs foundation
Last but certainly not least, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has benefitted people living with HIV and AIDS as well as organizations researching medication for 25 years and has raised over $35 million in doing so. David Furnish, Elton John’s husband and chairman of EJAF, highlighted in a NewNowNext guest-article the efforts of three relief organizations that the foundation supports: Intercambios, My Brother’s Keeper, and Health Frontiers in Tijuana, all organizations that benefit local communities struggling with the spread of HIV. To support organizations like these, donate to the Elton John AIDS Foundation here.
Any amount helps, and make sure to tweet out your participation under the hashtag #WorldAIDSDay!
