Tony Kushner, Cast of Angels in America join the Council\u2019s YouTube-Based HIV\/AIDS Awareness Campaign, \u201cI Talk Because\u201d<\/p>\n
New York, NY \u2013 Speaker Christine C. Quinn along with Council Members Rosie Mendez, Joel Rivera (see video here: http:\/\/j.mp\/94OXUx), Lewis Fidler (see video here: http:\/\/youtu.be\/MVNAV4j6xzU), Danny Dromm (see video here: http:\/\/youtu.be\/dj3hMcLd8Jk) and Jimmy Van Bramer (see video here: http:\/\/youtu.be\/mWHPtI7f9_4), commemorated the 15th anniversary of World AIDS day in New York City. Today also marks the first anniversary of the City Council\u2019s HIV\/AIDS social media campaign \u201cI Talk Because\u201d (www.youtube.com\/italkbecause).<\/p>\n
One year ago, the Council, together with HIV\/AIDS organizations across the five boroughs, launched a social media-based HIV\/AIDS awareness campaign. The campaign, entitled “I Talk Because,” features YouTube video clips of people talking about why it\u2019s so important for them to discuss HIV\/AIDS with the people in their lives. By using Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to feature video links across different platforms the campaign has sparked conversations about HIV\/AIDS in New York City & beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conversation about HIV\/AIDS must be revived, and we need to take this message to the places that people now occupy: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,\u201d said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cOn World AIDS Day and throughout the year, it is vitally important that New Yorkers continue the fight against the HIV\/AIDS epidemic that continues to harm our communities. Through this campaign, we hope to help prevent new infections and stop any stigmatization of people who are living with HIV\/AIDS. Whether we know someone who has been diagnosed, infected or know a person who has lost their battle \u2013 we need to keep the conversation going.\u201d (See Speaker Quinn\u2019s video here: http:\/\/j.mp\/aYh4uk)<\/p>\n
“Increasing awareness about a life and death disease is critical to helping control it,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “I talk because staying silent about HIV\/AIDS is not an option. We are fortunate enough in this technological day in age to utilize social media to increase this awareness and help save lives.”<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite all the advancements in HIV\/AIDS treatment, it is imperative that we continue to raise public awareness to tackle this devastating epidemic,\u201d said New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm. \u201cNothing will help us better combat AIDS than educating ourselves about it. Knowing the facts and clearing up popular misconceptions will not only help us slow the spread of the disease but it will also help us do away with the prejudice that still exists for people living with HIV\/AIDS.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the past year, celebrities, elected officials, community leaders and hundreds of everyday New Yorkers have participated and uploaded their own testimonials.<\/p>\n
The campaign features videos submitted by:
\n– Playwright Tony Kushner & the cast of ‘Angels in America’ (http:\/\/youtu.be\/0uboYUcmkt4)
\n– Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos (http:\/\/youtu.be\/wWRowK6J3QI)
\n– Wendy Williams (http:\/\/youtu.be\/r25i7Axl2Ts)
\n– Countess Luann de Lesseps from ‘The Real Housewives of New York’ (http:\/\/youtu.be\/g-7KonEI1iU)
\n– MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski (http:\/\/youtu.be\/V6U6xokmXgw)
\n– Bravo’s Andy Cohen (http:\/\/youtu.be\/2Gd425tP_OY)
\n– Judith Light (http:\/\/youtu.be\/Cm6vp_WqbqA)
\n– Rosie Perez (http:\/\/youtu.be\/gGMkELSumYM)
\n– Kristen Johnston (http:\/\/youtu.be\/mZpJys57QHQ)
\n– Jill Zarin from ‘The Real Housewives of New York’ (http:\/\/youtu.be\/HaTabK4etC4)
\n– Melissa Rivers (http:\/\/youtu.be\/y-njCPlYTuo)
\n– Alan Cumming (http:\/\/youtu.be\/HMfqQV1gMyI)
\n– B.D. Wong (http:\/\/youtu.be\/fzaPKMUUeWI)
\n– Rev. Al Sharpton (http:\/\/youtu.be\/pDRpzVYCOfM)
\n– Barbara Corcoran (http:\/\/youtu.be\/4wz2WsKN13U)<\/p>\n
The campaign can be viewed here:<\/p>\n
www.youtube.com\/italkbecause
\nwww.twitter.com\/italkbecause
\nwww.facebook.com\/italkbecause<\/p>\n
Talk show host Kelly Ripa joined husband Mark Consuelos reminding New Yorkers: \u201cKeeping in the spirit of World AIDs Day, even though it\u2019s the holidays, we want to remind everyone to keep World AIDS day and the fact that AIDs is a real disease in your mind. We don\u2019t want to take away anyone\u2019s fun, but we want everyone to have a long and healthy life.\u201d (See their full video: http:\/\/youtu.be\/BMW6kXwUEaA)<\/p>\n
Bravo star Andy Cohen said, \u201cI am still healthy because I had the facts about safe sex. I credit my knowledge of the situation with the fact that I am still alive today. If you think it is gone, you\u2019re wrong. Its here. I haven\u2019t been a saint in my 20 years in New York City, but I have been safe.\u201d (See his full video: http:\/\/youtu.be\/2Gd425tP_OY)<\/p>\n
Broadway and television actress Kristen Johnston said, \u201cI talk about HIV\/AIDs to my students at NYU because they don\u2019t really know what happened in New York in the 80s and 90s. People need to be told. It\u2019s a legacy we all carry and we need [to continue this conversation]. We would all prefer not to have safe sex. But, the bottom line is it could literally kill you.\u201d (Watch her video here: http:\/\/youtu.be\/mZpJys57QHQ)<\/p>\n
We know that open and honest conversations can prevent new HIV infections and reduce the stigma attached to people living with HIV\/AIDS. Today, over 100,000 New Yorkers are living with HIV\/AIDS, and thousands don\u2019t know that they are infected. And because every 9\u00bd minutes an American is infected with HIV, we need to educate ourselves and others about the virus.<\/p>\n
New Yorkers are invited to film and upload their own testimonials. Share why you talk about HIV\/AIDS to the people in your life and why this is important to you.<\/p>\n
1. Begin your video with “My name is _________ and I talk about HIV\/AIDS because…”.<\/p>\n
2. Upload your video to YouTube<\/p>\n
3. Email the URL of your video to: italkbecause@gmail.com <\/p>\n
This project is a partnership of the New York City Council, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Gay Mens Health Crisis, Harlem United, Visual AIDS, LIFEbeat, The Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV\/AIDS, Bronx AIDS Services, Latino Commission on AIDS, Gay Men of African Descent, Bailey House, Citiwide Harm Reduction, The Women’s HIV Collaborative, AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA), Hispanic AIDS Forum, Fortune Society, Village Care New York, Broadway Cares\/Equity Fights AIDS, National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, New York State AIDS Coalition, Community Health Action of Staten Island.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tony Kushner, Cast of Angels in America join the Council\u2019s YouTube-Based HIV\/AIDS Awareness Campaign, \u201cI Talk Because\u201d<\/p>\n
New York, NY \u2013 Speaker Christine C. Quinn along with Council Members Rosie Mendez, Joel Rivera (see video here: http:\/\/j.mp\/94OXUx), Lewis Fidler (see video here: http:\/\/youtu.be\/MVNAV4j6xzU), Danny Dromm (see video here: http:\/\/youtu.be\/dj3hMcLd8Jk) and Jimmy Van Bramer (see video here: http:\/\/youtu.be\/mWHPtI7f9_4), commemorated the 15th anniversary of World AIDS day in New York City.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n