PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

September 27, 2015

Laquelia Maye-Lewis
273-383-4833
lamayw@liberty.edu

http://minoritiesandhiv.weebly.com
Enlighten 1st HIV/AIDS SEMINAR
(Readability-score.com-Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease Score: 9.8)
According to the CDC, 1,218,400 citizens in the US age 13 years and over are infected with HIV,
including 156,300 individuals who do not know their HIV status1. African Americans and
Hispanics make up 57% of more than 700,000 cases of AIDS in the US. African Americans make
up 38% of all AIDS cases even though they only make up 12% of the US population1. In another
report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gay, bisexual, and other men who have
sex with men (MSM) are severely affected by HIV more than any other population2. HIV affects
African American men more than any other population1. There has been a 20% increase in the
number of HIV infections among African American gay and bisexual men1. These numbers show
that HIV unevenly affects the poor, racial, and sexual minorities.
Enlighten is a health advocacy program implemented by Laquelia Maye to address the
growing HIV epidemic that has affected the lives of so many, minorities and especially the men
who have sex with men population (MSM). Enlighten will be hosting its 1st HIV/AIDS seminar
on October 15, 2015. Issues that will be covered during the seminar are: myths surrounding HIV,
How HIV is transmitted?, Why are the risk of contracting HIV among minorities and MSM so
much higher than the general population?, The importance of using protection, HIV testing, side
effects of HIV, HIV medication, and the violence, discrimination, and stigma that often
surrounds minorities and the MSM population. The HIV epidemic is getting worse and action
has to be taken now to try to reduce this preventable disease. Enlighten is passionate about
raising awareness of HIV because of how HIV effects minorities and MSM unfairly. Although,
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV in the US at a glance.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/basics/ataglance.html Last update: July 1, 2015.
Accessed: September 27, 2015.
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV among gay and bisexual men.
Factsheet. http://www.cdc/hiv/risk/gender/msm/facts/index.html Last update: March
18, 2015. Accessed: September 27, 15.

gay and bisexual men accounts for 2% of the US population, they make up 72% of all new HIV
infections1. Currently, there are more than 500,000 persons living with HIV in the United States
that are gay, bisexual, or gay and bisexual men who abuse drugs1.
One of the best ways to fight stigma and empower HIV-positive people is by speaking out
openly and honestly about who we are and what we experience3Alex Garner, HIV Activist
Its bad enough that people are dying of AIDS but no one should die of ignorance2Elizabeth
Taylor.
Enlighten will be hosting its 1st HIV seminar October 12, 2015 at the Monk Center, 3939 Phil
Ave. Greenville, NC 20399 at 2pm. There will be refreshments, along with several of the
Enlighten HIV/AIDS advocates speaking. There will be free HIV testing and counseling.
Enlighten plans to greatly reduce the HIV epidemic through advocacy, counseling, and raising
awareness of the dreadful disease that has caused the death of over 311,000 citizens of the United
States.
Enlighten is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to spread awareness, reduce the stigma,
and stop the discrimination of minorities and MSM who are at high risk for HIV and those who
lives are affected by HIV/AIDS. Enlighten believes in the old saying Knowledge is power,
knowledge is the key to winning the war on HIV/AIDS! For more information:
http://minoritiesandhiv.weebly.com
Contact:
Laquelia Maye- Enlighten Founder
4589 Popular Hills Ave.
Greenville, NC 27739
Office: (252) 883-3855
Fax: (252) 845-3953
lamayw@liberty.edu

3 Healthline. Inspirational quotes bout HIV/AIDS awareness.

http://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/quotes Accessed: September 27, 2015.