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Despite New Haven’s efforts, the current state of the epidemic in the city should not elicit pride. There are over 1000 people living with AIDS in the greater New Haven area today, the majority of whom are young, African American males. The figures are comparable in the other two large cities in Connecticut, Bridgeport, and Hartford, statistics which should alarm us given Connecticut’s immense wealth. In New Haven, as in much of the rest of the United States, AIDS has moved from one minority group to another. Now, with approximately 1.1% of the city’s black population affected, the MTF organizations that were so successful in reducing the spread of HIV in the gay community have had to adjust to the demographic changes.
AIDS in New Haven is now more prevalent among the so-called “general” population, and rates of infection have stabilized over the last few years. Most importantly, the continuous focus on AIDS on a small scale has led to the return of “business as usual.” While it is still the main concern in the sexual health sector, the sense of urgency of the early 1990s is beginning to fade in the public consciousness. The scientific advances in treatment have also placed AIDS in the category of a chronic but treatable disease, making it seem like a less urgent cause.
The growth of the AIDS on a global scale, however, has sparked a renewed interest in the epidemic among activists. The sheer scale of death and HIV prevalence in Africa alone are enough to give pause to any eager volunteer. What can one person possibly do to make a difference in such a massive crisis? The answer, again and again, has been to start in your backyard. Activism is most effective when begun within one’s own community. Hence the current incarnation of AIDS Walk New Haven. Students hailing from all over the world have brought fresh eyes to the New Haven epidemic and new energy to the cause. The set-up works out well: as temporary residents, Yale students are perfect for organizing yearly events, which then allows the MTF organizations to continue their support service programs without deploying personnel to figure out logistics. The participation of Yale students in a community event also helps bring the cause to the attention of their peers, who might not otherwise be aware of the health problems of their host city. The re-establishment of AIDS Walk New Haven alone will not eradicate all of the city’s health problems, but it will certainly help pump fresh ideas and youthful enthusiasm into a campaign that could always use it.
Claudia Setubal is a junior History major at Yale University.