GMHC, the nationally recognized AIDS service organization that was first in the fight against HIV, opened its doors in 1981 as gay men battled an unknown disease that was swiftly taking their lives. To mark World AIDS Day 25 years later, the organization’s new chief executive officer, Marjorie J. Hill, Ph.D., sat down with FH OutFront to talk about HIV and AIDS in the LGBT community and how to get out the messages that can ultimately save lives.
FH OutFront: Twenty-five years have passed since your organization opened its doors under the name Gay Men’s Health Crisis. How would you describe the landscape of HIV/AIDS among gay men today – and are you pleased or disappointed with the outcome?
Dr. Hill: Twenty-five years into the epidemic, gay men are still challenged by stigma, discrimination, fear and denial. We are light years away from the early 1980’s with respect to medications and HIV testing. Back then the disease was a certain death sentence, but now individuals with HIV can have a long, productive and relatively healthy existence. But the homophobia that is blatant in many communities has not changed to the degree that GMHC would have liked. Here in the US, one million people are living with HIV, and 25 percent who are infected don’t know it. There are still people who are too afraid to get tested. The challenge with homophobia is that it isolates people and makes them less than equal. Things are better than in 1981, but HIV/AIDS still remains a major health and social justice concern.
FH OutFront: HIV prevention efforts are a matter of educating the public and persuading them to behave in certain ways. What are your main takeaways with respect to best communicating with the LGBT community?
Dr. Hill: We’ve learned from our 25 years of experience that preaching to people, particularly about sexual practices, is not very helpful. We promote self-esteem, positive self-identification, and security in oneself, one’s culture and abilities. The more a person feels good about herself or himself, the more she or he can do things that are positive and healthy – and safer sex is no different. We engage people honestly and support them, and give them opportunities to express themselves and talk about sex in a safe, supportive atmosphere.
FH OutFront: But how do you ensure that your messages are reaching your audience – which happens to be very diverse?
Dr. Hill: While the message is simple, the technique is complicated. We’ve learned that one size does not fit all. We take the self-affirming messages, add images and language, then present them in a cultural context that makes sense to whom we are aiming to reach. For gay men, the message must be in sync with that corner of the community. For example, young men of color who have sex with men need to receive messages in a context they will understand, and men over 50 who identify as gay and may or may not be of color need messages that are appropriate for them. The messages, the language, the vehicles through which we get the messages out – are all different. GMHC does not do one ad or have one program or condom wrapper design. We have 20 wrappers – and produce as many targeted ads as we have the resources to do. This being said, what does stay the same throughout is the spirit of showing respect for personhood.
FH OutFront: So when we talk about reaching the LGBT community, we’re really talking about reaching dozens of target audiences.
Dr. Hill: Exactly.
FH OutFront: GMHC’s mission includes “fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians.” What role does homophobia play in HIV transmission – and how does homophobia factor into your messages and how they are perceived?
Dr. Hill: Homophobia kills people. It kills gay people when they are too afraid that their pastor, family, or past girlfriend will reject them and so they won’t do something to save their lives – get tested and, if they have HIV, treated. Homophobia also kills heterosexuals. Individuals who aren’t gay but have HIV would rather be sick than have their church, family or neighbor think they’re gay. It kills heterosexual women who believe HIV is a gay disease and that they can’t get it and therefore don’t need to think about it. It’s denial. Homophobia and heterosexism end up being more compelling than one’s own life and the life of their sexual partner. Most of our educational outreach is about destigmatizing HIV. People with HIV are people of worth, and we value them. At the end of the day, we are committed to social justice – including anti-poverty, anti-discrimination – and we advocate that all people deserve equality, including equal access to healthcare.
FH OutFront: When will we eradicate HIV in the LGBT community?
Dr. Hill: I don’t have a crystal ball, but I will say a large measure of success hinges on when LGBT persons can live freely, and feel and be valued as individuals. I am optimistic that we will achieve greater and greater success, but I really do see dignity, respect and social equality linked to HIV incidence. People will take care of themselves and their partners if they do in fact feel good about who they are in the world.
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An insightful and thoughtful interview. The message was clear. The struggle for equality, dignity and access to quality healthcare continues. Thanks to Mr. Garbo for his generous support and for posting Ms. Hill's interview.
Posted by: Michael Hamilton | April 24, 2007 at 10:01 AM
THE CURE for HIV/AIDS.......AMBUSH
THE IDEA that AMBUSH cures AIDS
is being proven by the more than 400 individuals who have taken a dose of 60 ml three times daily for 21 days. The result is that AMBUSH 'KILLS' the virus by causing the protein envelope to rupture and the viral particles are discarded by the white blood cells. AMBUSH is able to 'KILL' the virus that are 'hiding' in the lymph system by its 'natural radioactive' properties. This process allows the body to 'return to normal health' with a corresponding immunity to that or those strains of the virus.
What is AMBUSH ?
AMBUSH is a radioactive isotope of uranium that is found in the 'palm' plant of which there are more than 3000 species. When ingested, AMBUSH causes the body temperature in the trunk area to rise to about 102 degrees when the individual is sleeping. The preparation takes four hours per batch, which is then given to the individuals for consumption 60 ml three times daily for 21 days. AMBUSH is a herbal preparation in this form but it contains an active ingredient which is a 'NEW' crystalline substance, a drug from the 'palm plant' similarly to ASPIRIN originating from the willow tree bark
RESULTS:
After 21 days on AMBUSH, ALL the individuals experienced a decrease in viral load to undetectable, an increase in cd4, increase in RBC, an improvement in general health such as more color to the face, decrease in Buffalo hump, an increase in gluteal muscles, a decrease to having no joint pains whereby individuals can bend to touch their toes, and walk up steps are but a few examples. There is also a dramatic increase in their sexual appetite beginning after the first week of therapy
DISCUSSION:
In any plant concoction such as percolated 'tea', there are 30-40,000 compounds, whi ch would take the scientific community twenty years to isolate one particular ingredient if they knew what they were looking for. The LORD GOD has given me seven steps to isolate the active ingredient, which is soft and metallic in nature and has a carbon- uranium-sulfur-(classified)-phentolamine configuration or structure. This is similar to Federick Kekule and the discovery of the benzene ring where he dreamt the structure.
As an antiviral and 'natural radioactivity' producing agent, AMBUSH is also effective against leukemia, lupus and HPV. Here I am saying that I have 'GIVEN' AMBUSH in the same 'strength' and dosage to patients with leukemia, lupus and HPV. A 35 year old male with HIV found it difficult to impossible to urinate was put on 'green tea' and water while the doctors contemplated prostrate surgery. One of the doctors gave him my number , I sent him a supply of AMBUSH an d he has not been given any more ARV's, since taking AMBUSH 18 months ago, is in 'good' health and has expressed a willingness to be examined by HIV investigators like many others who have taken AMBUSH.
I have sent this 'IDEA' to most HIV research agencies, scientist of the field, universities, hospitals, clinics, politicians and news agencies to which it is REJECTED because the name of THE LORD GOD is mentioned. He has steered me scientifically through the processes such as which plant and how to produce the active ingredient. What are the odds of a Florida Pharmacist picking a plant would contain the CURE for HIV/AIDS ?
I have never charged any of the people for their supply of AMBUSH but a life saving has been spent on the project with NO renumeration from any sources because AMBUSH falls outside the walls of modern medicine and research.
PROPOSAL:
My proposal is that I PROVE that AMBUSH CURES HIV/AIDS by giving it to a number of END-STAGE or DRUG-RESISTANT people and the scientific community watches their recovery. This proposal addresses the problem in that I have already outlaid the results to be obtained.
This IDEA is unconventional in that the scientific community has rejected AMBUSH because I say it is GOD given. Secondly if I wrote it according to certain standards, then it might be peer reviewed. However, THE LORD GOD has also shown me that there are five enzyme systems associated with the virus, reverse transcriptase, protease, fusion and two more of which causes the virus to be AIRBOURNE. This means that without DIVINE intervention mankind and ALL warm- blooded mammals will be extinct in a number of years.
The PROOF of what I am saying is found in scientific papers wherein it is found that when the protease cuts the viral strands, it cuts it at DIFFERENT lengths EVERY time, to which it should always be a valine at the end but is a different amino acid every time. This is why it is IMPOSSIBLE to produce a VACCINE.
Since this is NOT a hypothesis but there are about 400 individuals who have taken AMBUSH, here lies a vast area in which to check, recheck and confirm that AMBUSH CURES AIDS. Let it be mentioned that during the HIV reproductive cycle, reverse transcriptase converts viral RNA into DNA compatible to human genetic materials. Thus the human DNA has been 'hijacked' and since each person has a DIFFERENT DNA, then the new viral copy is unique to that person which shows that each individual has a DIFFERENT STRAIN of the virus. Consider two HIV positive people swapping viral strains and increasing its complexity with multiple partners.
It can also be proposed that they be revisited as proof that the strain or strains that they had were 'killed' at the time of taking AMBUSH considering that a person can catch as many different strains as there are people who are infected by HIV.
I am also willing to work with the scientific community in identifying those individuals who took AMBUSH and wish to be identified with this process notwithstanding that some are stigmatized while others are jubilant,
Once AMBUSH is verified as being able to accomplish that which is aforementioned then the next stage might be the natural and artificial synthesis of the substance.
Finally, if this is accepted or not, believed or not, THE LORD GOD always wins and this is the heavenly truth to which AMBUSH was divinely given to mankind for the CURE of HIV/AIDS and it will be here forever. Apostle Shada Mishe.
apostleshadamishe@gmail.com
Here is a video taped presentation that I gave at t he Martin Luther King library in Washington
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V53D1w__Po
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPwuwlVBOV0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZejptOwMTzQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqcTgIAhrhc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7HPKcT_iwY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9iQfgiYAnw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3RzRS6tJDM
Posted by: Apostle Shada Mishe | February 12, 2009 at 07:09 PM