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MAP Advocate
HIV Advocacy Update
April 20, 2005
Vol. 11. No. 11
TAKE ACTION!
Save HIV Prevention in Minnesota; Call Your State Rep Now!
If you haven't made a phone call or sent an email to your State Representative yet this year, today is the day. Now is the time. And what do you need to say to them? "Stop attacking effective HIV prevention and remove the restrictions in the House health and human services budget bill that propose to eliminate HIV prevention funding for Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP) and to censor the content of all HIV prevention materials published in print or through the Web-as part of state HIV prevention programs. Yes, you read that right. They want to eliminate state prevention funding specifically for MAP. Seriously, find out who your state rep is. Make sure they hear your voice. And, then, talk to your friends and ask them to do the same.
IN THIS ISSUE:
MN House Health Committee Attacks HIV Prevention
Leadership of the Minnesota House health committee is finishing the work on its budget bill [HF1422]. The bill includes a direct attack on all HIV prevention programs that receive funding from the Minnesota Department of Health. The bill includes a prohibition of state funding for "web sites, pamphlets, or other communications that contain sexually explicit images or language." It also states, "the Minnesota AIDS Project is not eligible for any grants from the commissioner of health or the Department of Health." This would eliminate funding for MAP's services targeting gay/bi men, HIV positive gay/bi men, African American men who are part of street substance using communities, and the MAP AIDSLine. Rep. Tim Wilkin [R Eagan] introduced the proposals with encouragement from the Minnesota Family Council. This year the group seems to object to the MAP PrideAlive web site. Ironically, a service that is not funded with state MDH dollars. What's at stake here is the ability of not just MAP, but of any organization to do good public health and try to prevent this sexually transmitted infection by using materials that are specific and culturally relevant.
Join Us at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 27, for the "Camp Out for Comp Sex Ed"
Join us at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 27 from 5-9 pm at the "Camp
Out for Comp Sex Ed". Join Minnesota teens, their parents, educators,
and folks who value medically accurate, comprehensive sexual health education
together to call upon their legislators to support comprehensive sex education
in schools and minors' rights to consent to health care. To register,
email us at publicpolicy@mnaidsproject.org
or call 612-373-9162. Camp Out for Comp Sex Ed is being coordinated
in partnership with Sex Ed for Life and our friends at MOAPPP [Minnesota
Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting].
Click here for a copy of the "Camp Out for
Comp Sex Ed" Flyer to use in your school.
MN Department of Health Releases 2004 Annual Report Tracking the HIV Epidemic
On April 15, the Minnesota Department of Health issued its annual report tracking the HIV epidemic in Minnesota. You may have seen the numbers in the headline news. But, what do they mean? Let us take you behind the headlines to get a real picture of who is being affected by HIV in Minnesota today, to learn more about how MAP is responding, and to find out what you can do. Here's your chance to get questions answered. "Looking Behind the Headlines" will be presented on Thursday, April 21 at Best Buy, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For more information click here . Read more on the Kaiser Daily Report.
Senate Panel Continues to Consider State ADAP Reforms
The HIV Prevention and Health Care Access Bill [SF 1836], a.k.a. "the HH" bill is still alive in the Minnesota Senate's health budget committee. The bill seemed doomed once the Department of Human Services released a $22 million cost report. MAP revised the bill to remove all new costs, while still making significant policy reforms that will prevent DHS from acting unilaterally, as it did last year, when making changes in the State's HIV drug and insurance assistance program. Read the revised bill on the MAP Bill Tracker.
Comp Sex Ed and Renewed Funding for Regional Training Sites Moving in Senate
The education budget committee in the Senate is working this week to wrap-up its omnibus budget bill [SF1148]. As of now, it appears the bill will include provisions from SF878, which establishes clear guidelines for comprehensive sexual health education in Minnesota schools. It also appears the bill will include funding to re-establish regional training sites in suburban and Greater Minnesota communities to help schools implement the comp sex ed guidelines. A big thanks to Sen. Steve Kelley [DFL - Hopkins] who is leading the effort to get the comp sex ed and regional training site provisions incorporated in the education omnibus bill. Visit the Bill Tracker for more info. Also, watch your email in-box. MAP is releasing a rare, special action alert to start getting phone calls going in the House to ensure passage of comp sex ed reforms this year!
Prevention Funding Targeting African Communities Still in the Mix
Sen. Linda Higgins [DFL - Minneapolis] is pushing to get emergency funding for HIV prevention targeting African communities included in the Senate's omnibus health and human services funding bill [SF65]. According to the Minnesota HIV epidemiology report for 2004 released last week by Minnesota Department of Health, African-born residents continue to comprise one-fifth of the new infections reported in Minnesota, but resources to respond to this emerging aspect of the HIV epidemic in MN are severely limited. Again, the struggle with moving this proposal ahead is the constraints created by the State's 'no new taxes' budgeting. Learn more about MAP's work on this initiative by visiting the Bill Tracker.
On Tuesday, April 12, the Minnesota AIDS Project held its annual AIDS Action Day event at the Capitol. Sen. Dibble [DFL-Minneapolis], Sen. Hottinger [DFL], Rep. Thissen [DFL] and Rep. Clark [DFL-Minneapolis] all spoke on behalf of the HIV Prevention and Health Care Access bill [HH bill] during the press conference. If you would like to read Rep. Thissens speech click here . A big thank you to all of the folks who attended AIDS Action Day and also to those of you, who called, wrote letters or emailed your legislators on behalf of the legislation MAP has been working on this session. Check the MAP Advocate and the Bill Tracker for updates on this legislation throughout the rest of the legislative session.
Join 10,000 Minnesotans at the Minnesota AIDS Walk on Sunday May 15 to show your support for the fight against AIDS and raise funds for the Minnesota AIDS Project. With the prospect of state prevention funding being cut, it's really time to step it up and step out for the AIDS Walk. Click here to get all of the details and set-up your own on-line campaign to collect pledges.
MAP Advocate is published by the Minnesota AIDS Project every two weeks while the Minnesota Legislature is in session, and monthly during the rest of the year. It is available through the MAP Web site and through email list service. If you wish to order the MAP Advocate, visit our Join the Action Network page, or contact MAP Public Policy by phone or email.
MAP Public Policy
Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-341-2060
800-373-2437
public.policy@mnaidsproject.org
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Friday, March 30, 2007
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