(cross-posted at http://actupphilly.blogspot.com/) What are you doing for World AIDS Day?   There are a lot of options. You could, for example, listen to Alicia Keyes' free YouTube concert. You could go to Starbucks and buy a Product(RED) gift card. You could volunteer with an AIDS Service Organization. You could get tested. You could talk to someone about AIDS.  All of which are fine things to do. But in my view they ignore the two fundamental causes of AIDS: the HIV virus, and injustice. The way AIDS works is that you get infected by the HIV virus, and it makes you sick. Getting infected can happen to anyone, but it happens disproportionately to people who are stigmatized, poor, and disenfranchised. The solutions to preventing AIDS are political solutions. Stopping politicians from keeping clean needles out of the hands of injection drug users. Stopping politicians from keeping condoms away from prisoners and young people. Stopping politicians from criminalizing and stigmatizing homosexuality. Forcing politicians to face and solve the problem of homelessness. Forcing politicians to put people's lives ahead of drug company profits. Forcing politicians to make sure everyone has access to affordable health care. Access to treatment, housing, health care, clean needles, condoms, justice, and enfranchisement are scientifically proven to fight transmission of the virus that causes AIDS. And politicians and corporations are the main things standing in our way. The spread of AIDS is not the fault of drug users, LGBTQ people, people who have sex, or mothers. The spread of AIDS is the fault of people unwilling to spend the money or political capital to solve the problem.

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• CVS locked up condoms in communities greatly impacted by HIV/ AIDS, AND NOW,  CVS Denied Medication to people living with AIDS.
• Stand with Calcutta House for a Press Conference:
• Thursday, September, 24th 1pm
• Broad and Girard Sts, Philadelphia
• Agencies and non-profits across the area have been hit hard by the state's budget crisis. They have worked out deals and asked for understanding from vendors in order to continue operations and services through difficult times. But CVS Pharmacy did not show understanding and compassion for Calcutta House, a non-profit that provides housing and services for people living with AIDS.
  

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Funeral Procession and March: Tell the G-20 to Fight AIDS Tuesday, Sept 22nd @ 2pm Free buses from Philadelphia! 215-386-1981 or email actupp@critpath.org

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AIDS ACTIVISTS DEMAND A PUBLIC OPTION TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES, AND DISPUTE THE TACTICS OF TOWN HALL DISRUPTORS   ACT UP Philadelphia, the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power, calls on Senator Arlen Specter to ensure the passage of health care reform that includes a 'public option' with coverage for all Americans, including those living with HIV/AIDS and all those at risk of infection. ACT UP will be visiting Sen. Specter's Philadelphia office on Friday, August 27, and again the following week, to encourage him to defend the most vulnerable members of our society. "Health care reform is a chance to end all racial, economic, gender, and sexual-orientation-based disparities in accessing medical care" said Erica Goldberg, ACT UP member. "Without a 'public option', I fear that reform will exclude people living with HIV/AIDS.”

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Check it out - follow it - comment on it - love it! Courageous: ACT UP Philly's blog at http://www.actupphilly.blogspot.com

• What what? ACT UP is having an 80's Throwback Party and overnight sleepathon fundraiser!
• When? Sat, Jan 31 9pm - Sun, Feb 1, 9am
• Where? House of the Future, 45th and Springfield Ave (take the 34 trolley to 45th St)
• Why? We want to raise money for our upcoming retreat, and have some fun while we're at it!

 Go back to the future at the House of the Future with ACT UP as we commemorate the end of our 20th anniversary year with a fundraiser from back in the day. Get people to sponsor you for each hour you spend at the sleepathon (lump sum donations also acceptable). Don't forget your slippers!

All are welcome to join us for our weekly meeting. The Monday meeting is the primary decision-making body of ACT UP Philadelphia, and everyone there gets a say. We meet at 6pm every Monday night at the Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany, 330 S. 13th Street, Philadelphia. We build the agenda by doing a go-round. Everyone introduces themselves and adds items to the agenda. Agenda categories include:

• Announcements (1 minute, no discussion)
• Action
• Discussion
• Reportback
• Proposals
• Non ACT UP Items

 At the beginning of the meeting, the facilitator will present our mission statement (ACT UP is the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. We are a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals, united in anger and committed to ending the AIDS crisis through direct action). They will also ask if anyone in the room is from law enforcement, pharmaceutical companies or the media, and the group will decide if that person can stay.  Questions? Call or email at the contact info that runs along the bottom of our page.

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Come support ACT UP Philadelphia as we party and raise money to send people living with HIV and allies to DC to remind the next president that fighting AIDS must be a priority. Plus, it’s our 20th anniversary, which should make you 20 times more excited to support us.   $5 gets you in the door, and you’re guaranteed (yes, guaranteed) to have a good time! Plus, it’s for a good cause. Good time for a good cause – good place to be!

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Check out the new website for our November 20th action!  http://www.100daystofightaids.org/