We Can Make Better Use of Our Time

Hi there

Another of many rallies is being planned soon to protest one of our allies. Why? Who is behind all this negative press of people that have stood with us time and time again? What is the reason for getting the community all fired up to protest at the offices and homes of people on our side instead of protesting people who are not? These are questions we need to ask ourselves?

One protest is claiming that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is turning a deaf ear to the need to save AIDS Drugs Assistance Program, or ADAP. This is far from true. Pelosi has been and continues to be one of the most outspoken, hardworking allies for the HIV community. She may not be perfect but who is?

“Effective drug treatments have improved both health and quality of life for thousands of Americans living with HIV/AIDS. However, many uninsured, low-income HIV-positive individuals still do not have access to these life-saving medications because they generally do not meet Medicaid requirements until becoming disabled by full-blown AIDS.

“Forcing people with HIV to wait for health care until their immune system is compromised by AIDS is bad health policy." House speaker Pelosi said in Nov. last year. She has been fighting for more AIDS services funding for over a decade. Why are we throwing her under the bus now?

How far are we willing to pressure our allies? Are we willing to protest so much that we may start losing allies? We should be radical,yes. We should be assertive for our rights, yes. But we have to be operating wisely and with all the facts.

"The AIDS Drug Assistance Program offers a lifeline to people who otherwise would be unable to pay for these new drugs. Research has shown that combination therapies are effective in battling the AIDS virus. We need to make these drugs available to all Americans who would benefit from them," Pelosi said.

And she hasn't just talked the talk. Pelosi has worked tirelessly to save the Ryan White Care Act time and time again. She's also been supportive, in the foreground and the background, for ENDA for ages. And she's been outspoken for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act for years. Look at her voting record on votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=26732 to see for yourself.

So, why aren't we going after those that are not fighting for ADAP instead? What is going on that people are feeding more fuel to the fire for the republican party's quest to take Pelosi and President Obama down? Because, make no mistake, every protest and every die in will be used to the advantage of people running against these two leaders. Would we rather have the republican or tea party running the House and in the White House? Then we will really see inaction and disregard for healthcare, human rights and the LGBT community. Remember the Reagan years? Remember the Bush Sr years? And, we don't have to go too far back to remember the GW Bush years.

We may have the numbers for full equality right now, according to polls (by an uncomfortably slim margin since demographics are usually off give or take up to 10 points), but we don't have the political or financial clout. We have to keep our allies and gain more, not turn on the few that we have. Wouldn't it be a better use of our time to go after the people that are not supporting us and educate them? Why are we constantly preaching to the choir? This is pointless. And, if I keep helping my neighbor to my left and he keeps accusing me of not helping me, sooner or later, I'll help the neighbor to my right instead.. That's not losing compassion, that's just giving up on the ungrateful.

We need to keep moving forward, not backward. Yes, we do need to keep encouraging those that are fighting for our health and human rights. But we need to call out those politicians that truly are in the way of saving lives and getting rights.

thanks

Kelly Rivera Hart