coalition of gay, hiv/aids groups to commemorate end of ban on syringe exchange funding

The Washington Blade Coalition of gay, HIV/AIDS groups to commemorate end of ban on syringe exchange funding
February 7, 2008

Washington Blade - February 7, 2008 WASHINGTON - A coalition made up of HIV/AIDS groups and human rights organizations will commemorate the end of the congressional ban on allowing the District of Columbia to use locally raised revenue to finance syringe exchange programs on Feb. 13 in the Rayburn House Office Building. Groups involved include AIDS Action, the AIDS Institute, amFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, D.C. Appleseed, Drug Policy Alliance, the Harm Reduction Coalition, the Human Rights Campaign, Physicians for Human Rights, PreventionWorks!, the Washington AIDS Partnership and the Whitman-Walker Clinic. These groups "will fortify efforts to end the current ban on using federal dollars to carry out syringe exchange programs," according to a press release. Congress voted in 2007 to allow the District of Columbia to use local funds to operate needle exchange programs after a nine-year ban. "With HIV and AIDS threatening public health the end of the ban on the District using its funds to operate syringe exchange programs in Washington is long overdue," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "We salute Congressional leaders for leading the effort to repeal this harmful policy and urge Congress to end the federal ban." Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton will be honored at the February 13th event. ### To attend, RSVP by Monday, February 11th to Christy at dclegalintern@aidsaction.org.

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