Tuesday News Roundup: World Aids Day, Washington DC Marriage equality bill, and more

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Today is World Aids Day. The 2009 theme is "Universal Access and Human Rights". According to the World Health Organization:

HIV/AIDS remains one of the world's most significant public health challenges, particularly in developing countries.



Thanks to recent advances in access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV is no longer a death sentence for many in developed countries. However, more than 5.5 million people in need of ART in low- and middle-income countries still have no access to treatment

An estimated 2 million people die every year from HIV/AIDS and its complications. The economic crisis has hurt many organizations, and cut funding for many programs. Please consider donating to your local Aids Charity if you are able, or click here to donate to the Minnesota Aids Project. Now on with the News:

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  Same Sex Marriage
  
  • Richard Cohen discusses Gay Marriage and the Manhattan Declaration in the Washington Post
    
  • Do you want to protect the sanctity of marriage? Don't ban same-sex marriages; Ban Divorce.
    
  • DC Council votes to approve marriage equality. Are they going to call Archbishop Wuerl's bluff?
    
  • New York may vote on Gay Marriage Bill today
    
  
  
• BBC: Are we getting complacent about AIDS?
  
• Rachel Maddow on Rick Warren, Uganda and their "Family" ties, Via Towleroad
  
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  World AIDS day
  
  • Presidential Proclamation
    
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    Minnesota Marks World AIDS day, via KARE11.
    

    A total of 8,819 Minnesota HIV/AIDS cases have been reported, including 2,976 people who have died, since AIDS tracking began in 1982 and HIV tracking began in 1985. An estimated 6,220 people are currently living with HIV in Minnesota. On average, the Minnesota Health Department received a new report of an HIV case every 27 hours in 2008.A total of 8,819 Minnesota HIV/AIDS cases have been reported, including 2,976 people who have died, since AIDS tracking began in 1982 and HIV tracking began in 1985. An estimated 6,220 people are currently living with HIV in Minnesota. On average, the Minnesota Health Department received a new report of an HIV case every 27 hours in 2008.

    
    
    
  • Advocate: World Aids Day Around the US
    
  
  
• A Right-wing 'go-to blogger 'has had enough of the lunacy from the teabaggers/birthers/fundie/nutjobs
  
• Protesters in St. Louis, MO protest outside the Catholic Basilica there to protest Diocese's donation to Maine's anti-gay "Yes on 1" campaign.
  
• Gay By Nature? Part 1
  
• PEPFAR funds being laundered to promote antigay and 'Ex-Gay' programs?