(COUNCIL MEMBER COREY JOHNSON OFFICE) December 1, 2015 — Lighting the Empire State Building in Honor of World  AIDS Day…

Yesterday, on the eve of World AIDS Day, I was joined by the amazing Whoopi Goldberg and George Takei, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and my colleagues in the NYC Council LGBT Caucus, as we lit the Empire State Building’s spire in red to mark this important occasion.

Millions of New Yorkers witnessed the red glow of the world’s most iconic skyscraper, raising awareness of this most solemn day. I want to thank the Empire State Building for agreeing to our request to light the spire in red, and all who joined us for this important ceremony.
Council Details $6.6 Million Funding for Plan to End AIDS

I was proud to announce alongside Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito that the Council has allocated $6.6 million for an initiative that will help New York achieve its goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2020. This initiative willfund a city-wide PrEP access network — making New York City one of the leaders nationally in funding PrEP to help combat new infections

These services directly support several recommendations of the statewide Ending the Epidemic blueprint, which Governor Cuomo outlined earlier this summer. The Council will use this investment as an opportunity to take the lead on ensuring that New York City has the resources necessary to reduce new HIV infections

As someone who has been HIV positive for 11 years, it’s incredibly moving to know that we are finally in a position to end this epidemic. Working together, I know we will succeed. (Photo courtesy of Donna Aceto and Gay City News)