Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
BBC News - Wednesday, 24 November, 2004
Gere was at the first-ever global creative meeting on HIV/Aids, attended by the media as well as activists.
He is part of the Heroes Project, which is campaigning to combat the illness in India. He said they were a "family of people who want to touch the world".
Gere told the UN there was "no distance between me and this disease", adding he had lost a lot of friends to Aids.
He said: "Aids is something that is not conceptual to me it's deep in my heart, it's killed a lot of my friends, it's killed a very close friend of mine two years ago.
'Deteriorate'
"It something that has touched my brother who is gay and he has lost a lot of very close friends. I've seen it close up and I've seen people deteriorate in six months."
The day-long meeting at the UN included sessions led by advertising, broadcasting and communications experts.
"People in the media are realising they have to think of more than the bottom line," said Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone, who helped organise the session.
Last month Gere spoke at a conference in Moscow, urging officials to do more in fighting the epidemic.
041124
BB041117
Copyright © 2004 - BBC. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BBC.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2004. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
.