Hundreds of Illinois AIDS Advocates
Rally at State Capitol for 5th Annual AIDS Lobby Day

Advocates call on state legislators to provide
HIV prevention and care services in Illinois prisons

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – More than 200 AIDS advocates from around the state gathered today in Springfield for the 5th annual “Caring for Our Communities” Illinois HIV/AIDS Lobby Day. Armed with statistics and personal stories, advocates called on Governor Rod Blagojevich and the General Assembly to take action to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in state prisons, ensure adequate state funding for HIV/AIDS services, and enact legislation to improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Illinois State Senator Steve Rauschenberger and Illinois State Representatives Sara Feigenholtz and Connie Howard joined AIDS advocates to release red balloons at a rally in front of the State Capitol to kick off the day’s events.

“The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in correctional facilities is a problem that Illinois must tackle head-on,” Mark Ishaug, Executive Director of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), said of the Lobby Day activities. “An estimated 35,000 people are currently living with HIV/AIDS in Illinois, as many as 900 of whom could be living in state correctional facilities. Better prevention education, medical care, and discharge planning in our prisons could play a key role in reducing the spread of HIV throughout Illinois.”

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is believed to be 14 times higher among inmates than among the general population. While the overall statewide rate of HIV/AIDS is .21%, Illinois reported an HIV rate of 1.1% among its incarcerated population.

Without assistance, HIV-positive ex-prisoners may resume former risk-taking behaviors, which can result in a serious decline in health, pose a risk to others, and result in a return to prison.

Communities of color are disproportionately affected by the spread of HIV/AIDS. Nearly 70% of all HIV/AIDS cases in Illinois reported in 2003 were among African-American or Latinos. In 2001, African-Americans made up 15% of the state’s population, but nearly two-thirds (65%) of the 45,600 state prisoners.

“The African-American community is especially hard-hit by the spread of HIV inside and outside our prison system,” said the Rev. Doris Green, Director of Community Affairs for the AFC. “By offering peer-based education, free and voluntary testing, and re-entry services for HIV-positive ex-prisoners, we are taking the first step toward curbing the epidemic in the African-American community and in the state.”

Advocates will emphasize the importance of adequate funding for HIV/AIDS services. In addition to a $2 million appropriation for services for prisoners and ex-prisoners, they will call on their legislators to maintain the current funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and HIV prevention services targeting communities of color.

“Caring for Our Communities” is organized by the AFC and sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, Abbott Laboratories, American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, Carolyn Grisko & Associates Inc., Gilead Sciences, Hoffman – LaRoche Ltd., Illinois Secretary of State, Pfizer Inc., The Phoenix Center, and the Renaissance Springfield Hotel.

Founded in 1985 by community activists and physicians, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is a local and national leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The AFC collaborates with community organizations to develop and improve HIV/AIDS services; fund and coordinate prevention, care, and advocacy projects; and champion effective, compassionate HIV/AIDS policy.

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Lobby Days 2005

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Meet the Advocates:

George Martinez receives first-annual Mary Dixon AIDS Advocacy Award

Rev. Green advocates for those with AIDS in Prison

Jim Pickett: Helping train AIDS advocates (Time Out Chicago)