ACT UP Sends Cuomo a Message at NYC St. Pat's Parade

New York City, March 18, 2016 -- Yesterday may have marked the first time in New York City history that various LGBT groups were welcome to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, but that doesn't mean this year's parade didn't have its protesters.

Veteran AIDS activist group ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) demonstrated at the event to pressure Governor Cuomo to fund the Blueprint to End the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in NY State by 2020. The Blueprint comes after years of effort on the part of HIV experts and community leaders from around the state. If the Blueprint is fully implemented, New York State will reduce new HIV infections from over 3000 per year to fewer than 750 by the year 2020.The Governor accepted and endorsed all of the recommendations in the Ending the Epidemic Blueprint at an event in April 2015.

For months leading up to the state's budget negotiations, HIV advocates have called for Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature to provide $70 million in funding in the fiscal year 2016-17 budget to implement the Blueprint. Despite strong advocacy from individuals and organizations across New York State, it is still unclear whether the Governor and Legislature will work together to make sure the Ending the Epidemic plan is fully funded, even though implementing the plan would save the state an estimated $4.5 billion in healthcare spending.

At NYC's St. Patrick's Day Parade, a group of ten activists held signs and a long banner asking the Governor to fully fund the Blueprint while distributing flyers to parade-goers. "We are here as HIV advocates to show the Governor we're serious about ending the AIDS epidemic in New York State by 2020. Securing $70 million in the upcoming budget will enable the plan's success," said ACT UP member Brandon Cuicchi.

This protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations targeting the Governor and Legislature for full support of the Blueprint. Last week, hundreds of HIV advocates traveled to Albany to meet with lawmakers for NYS HIV/AIDS Legislative Awareness Day. Next week a Coalition of New York State HIV groups are planning a number of press conferences across the state. At the parade yesterday, advocates said the pressure will continue until the plan is fully funded.