Atlanta Hosts Two Summits on Fighting HIV/AIDS

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and the U.S. still sees upwards of 50,000 newly- reported cases of HIV each year.

This week,  Atlanta takes center stage for groups organizing the fight against the epidemic.

The Southeast HIV/AIDS Summit runs through Saturday at the Holiday Inn Capital Conference Center in downtown Atlanta.

It brings together both new and seasoned AIDS advocates working at the grassroots level.

William Francis is executive director of Atlanta’s CityWide Project.  He says grassroots organizers are needed because HIV-positive people today still face challenges they did three decades ago.

“And here it is 30 years after HIV, and we’re still dealing with stigma, fear and discrimination,” says Francis.

Meanwhile, the White House brings to Atlanta Thursday a one-day conference specifically addressing HIV/AIDS in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

In partnership with the Morehouse School of Medicine, it features top health officials who will address the national strategy for combating the epidemic.