Results tagged “gaymenshealthcrisis”

Today is the 24th annual AIDS Walk New York, which benefits the Gay Men's Health Crisis and over 50 other AIDS service programs. This year's fundraiser is expected to have 45,000 participants. Last year, the over $7 million was raised and, since 1986, the event has raised over $100 million to benefit HIV programs and services in the tri-state area. The event kicks off in Central Park at 10 a.m. (with plenty of entertainment before) and walkers will travel 6.2 miles around Manhattan. Which also means there are street closures along the route (Central Park's exit at 72nd Street & Central Park West; Central Park West to 110th Street; 110th Street to Riverside Drive; Riverside Drive to 74th Street; 74th Street to Central Park West). A post-walk rally for gay marriage equality is also scheduled in Times Square, between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Demonstrators putting together a display of baby dolls on the steps of City Hall yesterday in recognition of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day struggled in their attempts to track down a balance of racially mixed dolls. The Times says that having a mix was important because about 90 percent of women living with HIV in New York City are black and Hispanic and an even higher percentage when it comes to new HIV infections in teenage females. But that wasn't easy to convey for members of the Gay Men's Health Crisis who helped organize it. One member said, “A few people who purchased dolls found it very hard to find brown or black baby dolls. I went to three 99-cent stores and couldn’t find any. Another colleague went to four stores. What is that about?” The paper points out that American Girl and Dora dolls (not to mention Homies) have gone a long way to diversifying what used to just include "Barbies dipped in color." Word is that Dora is about to get a sexy new makeover and there are now Sasha and Malia dolls—but not to be confused with the Obamas of course.

An estimated 45,000 people walked in the 23rd annual AIDS Walk New York today and raised a record total of over $7 million. Per NY1, "it is the most money ever raised by an AIDS walk in the United States." AIDS Walk founder and producer Craig R. Miller noted how in spite of the faltering economy, people donated, "New Yorkers stated loudly and clearly that the critical work of Gay Men's Health Crisis and more than the 50 other HIV/AIDS service organizations must be supported if we are to see an end to the domestic AIDS crisis."