AIDS Walk and GMHC Ad Campaign Says 'Hate Is Not a NY Value'

AIDS Walk New York and Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) launched a subway ad campaign series titled "Hate is NOT a New York Value" to very publicly stand up to the hateful rhetoric from the presidential campaign trail. GMHC, the beneficiary of AIDS Walk New York, says its clients, most of whom are people of color, low-income, members of the LGBT community, or women, are being bombarded with stigmatizing and degrading messages emanating from this year's election season.

"GMHC's clients are under attack by some current political frontrunners," said GMHC CEO Kelsey Louie. "The hate speech that these so-called leaders are spewing is clearly intended to foster public ridicule of people and families that rely on government-sponsored medical care and other social services. The degrading statements being made about women, immigrants, minorities, the poor and LGBT people are perpetuating exactly the kind of environment that we have to fight back against if we are serious about ending the AIDS epidemic."
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The ads are placed in 2,000 New York City subway cars and seen by as many as 1.5 million riders each day -- totaling more than 120 million views over four weeks. They depict a diverse group of New Yorkers and AIDS Walk supporters. The new wave of posters feature actors Alan Cumming, LaChanze, and Nick Adams, as well as prominent AIDS activist Peter Staley.

"I am so proud of GMHC and AIDS Walk New York for once again taking a risk and doing the right thing in a challenging political climate," said Alan Cumming, who is appearing in this latest campaign and has participated in several AIDS Walk New York events over the years. "With the help of leaders like GMHC Co-Founder, Larry Kramer, the organization fought hard against bigoted nonsense in the '80s. Today, thanks to leaders like Kelsey Louie, they are being just as bold."

Each of them takes a stand with the defiant message, "Hate is not a New York value!" displayed in a banner over their heads, and the phrase, "Don't stand for it -- walk!" emblazoned across their chests. Others feature a mixed-race male couple (Jay Armstrong of ABC's Quantico and his partner, actor Mike Millan) proclaiming, "The only barriers we want between people are condoms!", and a woman of color stating that she walks "to protect my healthcare."

"Back in the 1980s, Jesse Helms engaged in this kind of hate speech," said Peter Staley, a prominent leader of the 1980s and 90s activist group ACT UP. "Thirty years later, many thought such ignorance from political leaders was largely a thing of the past. Not so. Today, we are witnessing an astounding eruption of hatred towards the people that are most affected by HIV."

GMHC Board Co-Chair Robbie Kaplan said that too much of the rhetoric we are hearing on the campaign trail today is fueled by hatred, discrimination and prejudice, with the loudest individuals causing the most harm. "GMHC was founded to fight the kind of passivity that permits such hateful rhetoric by demanding concrete, comprehensive policies that advance social justice and equal rights for all, including people living with HIV and AIDS," said Kaplan. "GMHC is here to remind everyone that hatred is not an American value and that sexism, racism and homophobia can never be tolerated -- period."

"We're fighting back against the haters and their attempts to dominate the media," added AIDS Walk Founder and Senior Organizer Craig Miller who, along with his organization of activists, designed the new AIDS Walk campaign that is hitting the streets.

Thousands of advertisements from the new campaign have been posted in MTA Subway cars, where they will remain through mid-May. AIDS Walk New York will take place on Sunday, May 15.