Twenty five years have passed since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and we are still depending on the will and good faith of those who have power so they deliver the resources according to our rising needs. The battle against the virus is beyond our T Cells, it has moved silently to the halls and offices in Capitol Hill and the White House.

Each state and territory of the United States also elects a governor, and cities elect mayors and councils. All of these men and women will undoubtedly have to face decisions that will either benefit us or lead us to doom. This is the reason why our electoral participation is so important.

There is evidence that fundamentalist religious groups are also lobbying for backing of their agendas. Sadly, we homosexual HIV/AIDS patients are not included as a priority because we represent the destruction of the conservative model of the righteous family, which is composed of a father, a mother and the children. Even though many of these children turn out to become members of the GLBTT family, the concept is still immersed in the frames of minds of many who do not respect our lifestyles.

Painfully, the old concept of sin being the reason for the appearance of the virus still lingers, and surprisingly there are those who fervently believe this as the truth. Mercy has become and idealistic afterthought.

This panorama has lead us to constantly remind others that there is a constitutional division between the church and the state. We would think that the civil rights movements and its labor pains would have taught the Nation a lesson regarding this issue. Surprisingly, it has not. Bigotry, stigma and gay discrimination are alive and kicking like a creature in the womb of a monster. It gets worse if besides being gay you are also HIV+ or have AIDS.

Another astonishing fact is that we PLWHIV/AIDS are not as united as we should be, in a broad coalition for our rights. Idealistically we should be, but the material factors in which we have to survive divide our intentions and public expressions of our rights, such as the vote. Money, businesses, health insurance opportunities, drug prices and their availability dictate our moves as puppets in a deadly scenario, controlled by giant corporations that survive feasting of our sorrow and pain. This has to stop.

Unity is the key to change.

Very soon we will make a decision that will affect us for at least the next four years. We have to urgently point out those factors that will provide means for our survival. We need to acknowledge those who are compromised with our well being: people who do not discriminate because of race, religion, civil status of sexual orientation, or preference, whichever term fits best. We can not have the luxury of giving one more second to those who do not recognize the health crisis which we are living.

We must not provide the opportunity for old, rusty and stagnant ways of thinking and beliefs to remain controlling the agenda that rules our lives. The time has come for a powerful GLBTT social revolution, that will impact, not only our daily routines, our emotional relations, our moves, but most of all our health...

If we do this now, and exercise our right to vote well November 2, undoubtedly we will wake up in the morning of Wednesday November 3, 2004 living in a better, safer and definitely more lovable World. We will have changed tradition and made the day one of reassurance for the living...

Thank you.