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Advocates
Converge on State Capitol
For 5th Annual HIV/AIDS Lobby Days
 More
than 150 AIDS advocates from across the state gathered in Springfield
on April 12-13, 2005 to talk to elected officials about important HIV/AIDS
issues. Below is a highlight of the legislative victories and more coverage
of Lobby Day activities.
House
Rejects Mandated HIV Testing in Prisons
On
April 13, members of the Illinois House voted 17 to 90 on House Bill 255,
casting a resounding defeat for legislation mandating HIV testing of state
inmates. AFC thanks the 90 legislators who voted against House Bill 255.
We also extend heartfelt gratitude to the hundreds of AIDS advocates from
across the state who called, wrote, and met with state lawmakers in support
of compassionate prison policy.
House
Approves African American AIDS Response Act
The Illinois House unanimously passed the African American AIDS Response
Act on April 14, a day after more than 150 AIDS advocates converged on
the State Capitol to lobby for it. Championed by State Rep. Constance
Howard (D-Chicago), the bill expands free and voluntary HIV counseling
and testing services in prisons, and in state government offices that
are frequented by the public. The bill also assists HIV-positive welfare
recipients and calls for other government reforms to address HIV/AIDS.
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) thanks Rep. Howard and her colleagues
for advancing this important piece of legislation. We also applaud State
Representatives Rosemary Mulligan (R-Des Plaines), Rep. David
Miller (D-Dolton), and Rep. Robert Molaro (D-Chicago) for speaking
on the House floor in support of the bill.
Advocates
Learn and Practice Lobbying Skills
Following
a half-day training session, Lobby Day participants were treated to a
legislative reception generously co-sponsored by the Phoenix Center of
Springfield. Local singer Doris Geer and pianist Sean Rose entertained
the crowd that assembled to honor community activist George Martinez with
the first Mary Dixon AIDS Advocacy Award.
State Representatives Patricia Bellock, Connie Howard, Sidney
Mathias, Robert Pritchard, Ronald Wait, and Senator
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis joined State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka
in welcoming AIDS advocates to the state’s capital.
The
following day, AIDS advocates gathered for a rally on the steps of the
State Capitol. State Representatives Sara Feigenholtz and Connie
Howard joined State Senator Steven Rauschenberger in addressing
the crowd before red balloons were released to remember those who die
of HIV/AIDS everyday. AIDS advocates spent the rest of the morning and
early afternoon in the Capitol talking to lawmakers.
"Virtual"
Lobby Day Advocacy Materials:
Ten
Things You Can Do! (PDF)
Lobbying Theory
(PDF)
Know your elected officials (PDF)
Illinois House Members
(PDF)
Illinois Senate
Members (PDF)
Legislative
Materials and Fact Sheets:
Training
presentation (PDF)
Corrections
HIV/AIDS Funding (PDF)
Corrections
Funding Petition (PDF)
HB
255 - Mandated HIV Testing in Prisons (PDF)
HB 2578 - African American
AIDS Response Act (PDF)
SB 457 - Medically Accurate
Sex Ed (PDF)
Other Legislative
Priorities (PDF)
Caring for Our Communities is made possible by the generous support
of premier sponsor GlaxoSmithKline, and co-sponsors Abbott Laboratories,
Illinois ACLU, Carolyn Grisko & Associates, Gilead Sciences,
Hoffman-LaRoche Ltd., Illinois Secretary of State, Pfizer
Inc., Phoenix Center, and the Renaissance Springfield Hotel.
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Photos
of 2005 Lobby Days
Press
Release
2005
Priorities
2005
Legislation
April
14 audiocast
April
15 audiocast
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)
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