Gay Men's Health Crisis at the XIX International AIDS Conference

The following is the schedule for Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) at the

2012 International AIDS Conference.

SUNDAY, JULY 22 to FRIDAY, JULY 27

NGO Booth: "You Are Not Alone" 
GMHC will be distributing materials of social marketing, HIV prevention and testing campaigns, services for people living with HIV and AIDS, reports on public policy efforts.
Location: Global Village, Hall B, Booth #632

SUNDAY, JULY 22

Satellite Session:
“From Revolution to Reality:  How Will New Science Impact the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy?”
11:15 am – 1:15 pm
Location:  Mini Room 4

Panelists:

• Keith Green , AIDS Foundation of Chicago
• David Holtgrave, PhD, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Molly Morgan Jones, RAND Corporation
• Carlos del Rio, MD, Global Health Institute

Moderator:  Marjorie Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC)

The U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) has been in place for two years.  Since its release, scientific breakthroughs and new research have transformed our thinking about the U.S. HIV epidemic.  HTPN 052 and successful PrEP and microbicide trials demonstrate that biomedical interventions hold promise that was unthinkable just two years ago.  At the same time, Gardner and his co-authors shine the spotlight on the human factors impacting the epidemic – half of people with HIV are not in medical care, and just one in four achieves treatment success.  Key researchers, including some who contributed to these breakthrough findings, will weigh in on the implications of new research on the U.S. Strategy.

Symposium:
“Gay Leaders:  Who Do You Represent Beyond Yourself?”
3:45 – 5:45 PM
Location:  Global Village – Room 2

Panelists:

• Stephen Lewis, Stephen Lewis Foundation, AIDS-Free World
• Jeanne Gapiya, Association Nationale de Soutien aux Séropositifs et aux malades du Sida (ANSS)
• Marjorie Hill, PhD, Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC)
• Othoman Mellouk, MSM Global Forum

Moderator:     Yves Yomb, Alternative Cameroun

The Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS (GIPA Principle), declared at the Paris Declaration in 1994 and formally adopted by the UNAIDS in 1999, affirms that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) should be fully involved and integrated in the development of policies related to and programs providing HIV research, care, prevention, and treatment.  The panelists will debate and analyze the evolution of the PLHIV and MSM leadership in Africa Europe and North America and in particular.

MONDAY, JULY 23

Satellite: National AIDS Leadership Circle
“Equity for YMSM of Color in the USA: Ensuring Quality Cultural, Structural and Optimal Care & Research for Gay and Bi Men of Color” – Organized by:  AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC),  Legacy Community Health Services, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, San Francisco AIDS Foundation
7:00 am – 8:30 am
Location: Mini Room 6

Panelists:

• Robert Garofalo, MD, MPH, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago’s Gender, Sexuality and HIV Prevention Center
• Ron Stall, PhD, Center for LGBT Health Research, Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences at the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh
• M. Keith Rawlings, MD, HIV Medical Affairs at Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Moderators:

• Phil Curtis, APLA
• Ace Robinson, MPH, Managing Director, Public Policy, Research & Community Health, GMHC

The satellite will engage the public on the multivariate barriers for young men who have sex with men of color (YMSM) to access and maintain competent healthcare. The discussion will focus on the cultural norms that often discourage utilization of HIV/STI prevention and intervention opportunities, policy issues surrounding structural barriers to care, and the integration of developing modalities into traditional primary care and mental health.

Satellite Session:

“The State of New Media and HIV: How new media is helping to move us closer to an AIDS-free generation” – Organized by AIDS.gov; Planning Committee:  GMHC, ISIS, Metro Teen AIDS, POZ, San Francisco AIDS Foundation

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Mini Room 4

Panelists:

• Susannah Fox, Pew Internet & American Life Project
• Ingrid Floyd, Iris House
• Venton Jones, National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition
• Oriol Gutierrez, POZ
• Eunice Gnay Namirembe, TextToChange
• Ken Williams, Test Positive Awareness Network

Moderator: Todd Park, U.S. Chief Technology Officer, The White House
Closing remarks:  Miguel Gomez, AIDS.gov

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25

Presentation:
“At the Intersection of HIV and Cancer: Needs and Interest in Cancer-Related Programming Among AIDS Service Organizations” – John Guidry, PhD, Director, Community Health and Research
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm  

The poster presents the findings of an assessment of 60 AIDS service organizations in the tri-state area on their needs and challenges in providing cancer programming for HIV-positive persons.

Poster Display and Presentation:
“Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward PrEP in a New York City Sample of Sexually Active MSM" (WEPE277) –John Guidry, PhD, Director, Community Health & Research and Ace Robinson, MPH, Managing Director, Public Policy, Research & Community Health
12:30 – 2:30 pm
Location:  Exhibition Hall, Level 2 

The poster details the findings of a survey of gay men undertaken by Columbia University and GMHC at annual LGBT Pride events in 2011.

Oral Poster Discussion:
"International Blood Donation Guidelines for Men who have Sex with Men (MSM)" – Nathan Schaefer, MSSA, Director, Public Policy
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration prohibits men who have sex with other men (MSM) from donating blood. The policy does not consider the potential donor´s HIV status, sexual activity, or relationship status. The current policy allows other populations at elevated risk of HIV to less restrictive deferrals, or no deferral at all. This type of policy reinforces incorrect information about the spread of HIV. Most countries have permanent deferrals of MSM blood donors despite chronic blood shortages. Reform of U.S. blood donation guidelines is necessary to maximize blood donations and improve blood safety protocols.

Satellite:
“HIV & Aging: The Challenge of the Epidemic’s Fourth Decade” – Organized by Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) in partnership with Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location:  Session Room 7

Event Co-Chairs:

• Dr. Gottfried Hirnschall (to be confirmed), HIV Department, World Health Organization
• Naisiadet Mason, Kenyan HIV activist and older adult with HIV

Speakers:

• Kevin Fenton, MD, PhD, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Joel Negin,  University of Sydney School of Public Health
• Stephen Karpiak, PhD & Mark Brennan-Ing, PhD, ACRIA Center on HIV and Aging and New York University College of Nursing
• Lisa Power, Terrence Higgins Trust

Panelists/discussants:

• Ricardo Jimenez, Ecuadorian Red Cross (Ecuador)
• Carolyn Massey, Older Women Embracing Life, Inc. (United States)
• Wojciech Tomczynski, SIEĆ PLUS Polish Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS Association (Poland)
• Ruth Waryaro, HelpAge International (Uganda)

This session aims to bring greater scientific and policy emphases to the challenges and concerns experienced by an aging HIV epidemic.  Brief presentations will cover epidemiology, prevention, and care management in the context of multi-morbidity—the occurrence of two or more chronic medical conditions, common in older adults with HIV—and caregiving challenges.  In addition, a global community panel of older adults with HIV will respond. Participants will discuss appropriate public policy responses in various national and global contexts.

THURSDAY, JULY 26

Poster Display:
"HIV Prevention and Treatment in Prisons and Affected Communities: A Global Comparison" – Robert Valdez, MSW, Policy Analyst
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location:  Exhibition Hall

Numerous studies of densely populated regions have found a direct correspondence in higher rates of incarceration with higher rates of HIV infection.  Comprehensive discharge planning and reentry programs can greatly reduce these trends.  There is widespread belief that HIV transmission is common in prison settings; however, precise statistics on infection rates in prisons are not available. Although condom availability in U.S. prisons is extremely rare, distribution programs have been very successful in many other countries.  The World Health Organization, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS all recommend that prisons readily provide condoms confidentially to inmates.

Poster Display and Presentation:
“It's Not Just HIV testing: Addressing the Disproportionate Rates of HIV Infection in African American MSM Through a Coordinated Prevention Approach” (THPE230) – Lynnette Ford, MSW, Director, and Kenneth Curry, Community Health Specialist, David Geffen Center for HIV Prevention and Health Education
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location:  Exhibition Hall, Level 2

New York City continues to be the epicenter of HIV/AIDS infection. In 2012, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released surveillance data that indicated 43% of all new HIV infections occur in African-American men who have sex with men (MSM).  An integral component of GMHC’s prevention activities is our innovative HIV counseling, testing, referral and partner notification program targeted to minority MSM.

Forum:
“Combination HIV Prevention” – Ace Robinson, MPH
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
George Washington University/School of Public Health
Followed by a reception, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

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