Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Chronicle - May 20, 2005
The San Francisco Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center launched the first National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Wednesday as part of its ongoing initiative to fight HIV and AIDS discrimination and stigma among Asians and Pacific Islanders.
It's not easy, they say, given the stigma and shame that still remain in the community, even three decades after the AIDS epidemic first emerged.
"AIDS is rooted in sex, and these communities don't have frank talks about sex," said Lina Sheth, director of research for the API Wellness Center. "Someone with HIV or AIDS is seen as being bad. But this affects families, communities and our society."
As a result, many in the community are too ashamed to learn about the disease, ask for help or get tested, leaving them more vulnerable to HIV risk factors.
The public can show its support for this initiative by signing the center's online petition against HIV discrimination at www.banyantree.org, which the center plans to present at various events throughout the year.
With the growing rate of HIV and AIDS cases in these communities, no one can afford to stay silent.
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