Green Party LGBT News

25th anniversary of the THT	16 November 2007
Summary 2007 marks the 20th World AIDS Day and the 25th anniversary of the Terrence Higgins Trust. Commented the Green Party's LGBT Media Spoksperson, Phelim Mac Cafferty. "Greens will be taking to the streets to remember the 17,000 who have died of AIDS in the UK in the past 25 years.

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"2007 marks the 20th World AIDS Day and the 25th anniversary of the Terrence Higgins Trust." Commented the Green Party's LGBT Media Spoksperson, Phelim Mac Cafferty. "Greens will be taking to the streets to remember the 17,000 who have died of AIDS in the UK in the past 25 years.

"It was 25 years ago that one of the first suspected deaths from Aids occurred - Terrence Higgins. Little did we think that in all that time the last 2 years would see the highest number of people newly diagnosed with the syndrome. It is worrying that safe sex messages aren't permeating throughout our community and that in the climate of budget cuts access to treatment may become more and more difficult. (1)

"Research and care, prevention and education, as indicated by the invaluable 25 years' work of the Terence Higgins Trust are where the Greens believe the focus should remain. On the 20th World Aids Day, it is still our opinion that the strongest way that we can remember the 17,000 who have died from Aids in the UK is to fight for better funding to prevent infection and death from this cruel, preventable illness. It is pertinent that we remember the dead through the planned Memorial in Brighton and the existing memorial in Manchester, but we also need to fight for the living"


Notes:

(1) The Green Party in Brighton and Hove brought to the public's attention in November 2006 the devastating budget cuts to those suffering from HIV and AIDS: spending on HIV/AIDS services in the city has fallen from £437,000 in 2002/03 to £307,380 for this financial year
(2006/7) and represents a cut of 30%.

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