Transcript: Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Bassett Deliver Remarks at World Aids Day 2016

December 1, 2016

Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRc5dKG8yc

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Well, please join me in saluting someone who has done so much for New York City with his performances. One of the great New Yorkers today – Billy Porter, thank you.

[Applause]

Look, this is one of those moments where you have to reflect, you have to feel emotionally the history that we’re here to commemorate – and it is a history filled with pain. It’s a very personal pain. It’s something – every single person here has a story – those they lost, those they knew, those they loved and lost. There is clear pain. And, at the same time, what this symbolizes is hope because of the fight that was waged.

New York City – I remember the first days of this epidemic – the confusion, the frustration, the fear. New York City was pushed back on its heels, flat on its back, dealing with an overwhelming challenge. But one thing we know about our beloved city – we are not intimidated. We are never held down for long.

New Yorkers fought back; activists fought back; doctors, nurses fought back; scientists fought back, and worked to turn this around over years and years, and to demand the help people needed, the investment they deserve. In this city – which so proudly was the birthplace of the LGBT rights movement and so many other movements for dignity – in this city was also one of the most profound movements to address this unknown scourge. When we first confronted something we had no idea the magnitude of, this city was one of the places where we decided to fight back and take it head on, and believe that we could beat it.

And that’s what I see when I look at this memorial. It makes me sad to think of a loss. It makes me proud to remember the fight, and a fight we are still waging to this day. And that work must deepen.

Now, I want to thank everyone who is here. I want to thank everyone who is here. Now, I know you’re not just here for symbolism. I know you’re not just here because this is a moment of memory. This is also a re-dedication to each other and to a fight. I want to thank the people who made this memorial possible – Christopher Tepper, Paul Kelterborn, Keith Fox. Let’s give them a warm round of applause for their good work.

[Applause]

And the leaders who are here who believe in continuing a deepening of this fight – Speaker of the City Council Melissa Mark-Viverito; Public Advocate Tish James; Comptroller Scott Stringer; Senator Brad Hoylman; Councilman Corey Johnson – we thank them all for their good work.

[Applause]

We know in New York City we have a special responsibility not only to each other, but to the nation. There are 1.2 million Americans who are HIV-positive right now – 10 percent of whom live in our city. We have an obligation to get this right and to be a beacon for everyone else around our country. We are creating – this is the most important point today to say – we are creating a future without HIV and AIDS.

[Applause]

You’re going to hear from our wonderful Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett in just a moment. But two facts I want to emphasize – in the year 2015, basically 30 years into this fight, we had the lowest number of HIV infections in 30 years in this city.

[Applause]

And that is thanks to the hard work of so many people present today. This has been a fight not just waged by government, but waged by people at the grassroots.

In 2015, there were no HIV births in this city. That is real progress.

[Applause]

A year ago, I said clearly – policy of this city is HASA for All – an uncompromising vision of supporting those in need.

[Applause]

Since that time, almost 1,000 people who – have been served – who needed help and weren't getting it in the past – they’re getting homes, they’re getting help with transportation, they’re getting the resources to heal. This city is embracing and supporting those who need that helping hand.

So, I conclude with this. It took a long time for this memorial to be created. And it will stand for a long time to keep our memories fresh. But most importantly, it will remind us – we have set a goal and we must achieve it – end the epidemic by 2020. It’s as simple as that. Let this be the place where we recommit ourselves.

Thank you. Thank you so much, everyone.

[...]

Commissioner Mary Bassett, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Thank you. Thank you, Charles, for such a kind introduction.

I always like to be here on World AIDS Day. And all of us mark the day because it’s a day for remembrance, reflection, recharging, and celebration. And now we have a beautiful place to do all of those things in the New York City AIDS Memorial. So, I want to thank all those who made the Memorial possible.

I always think that today is a day when we in government, particularly those of us who work in health in government, need to acknowledge the debt of gratitude we owe to activists and advocates. Without you, we would – none of us – be here today.

[Applause]

And I want to say that you didn’t just make sure that we delivered on services, you made our science better. You accelerated discovery. And that’s why it was such a pleasure to be introduced by Charles King. And I want to acknowledge the whole New York City coalition to end the epidemic. It’s a combination of 70 different community organizations, who have worked to ensure that we in government are held to account.

So, you noticed that I flipped things a little bit. I’m a government appointee, but I do want to acknowledge that we in New York have some wonderful politicians who have stepped up and who have responded to the challenge of ending the epidemic, and that includes our Mayor, Mayor de Blasio, and our Governor, Governor Cuomo –

[Applause]

– Who, together, have worked with our City Council and ensured that we have the resources we need to make real ending the epidemic.

I became a young doctor when AIDS came to the wards of Harlem Hospital. And it reverberated across the world – affected my work as a doctor in Southern Africa – reverberated through my friendship network, my family – all of us are remembering how many people have stood up and how many people we’ve left behind.

I want to take a moment though to tell you some of the numbers that go with those stories because I am so pleased that, as New York City’s Health Commissioner, I can tell you some great numbers that show the impact of the wonderful work that you’re doing. You’ve heard we have fewer than 2,500 new diagnoses. The actual number is 2,493 here in New York City. That is a historic low. Thank you all. And thanks to our team at the Health Department.

[Applause]

And you heard the number of babies born with HIV. The number is zero. That’s the number we want.

[Applause]

We like that number – zero.

So, I want to say a few words about how important disease elimination is to addressing disparities because, even though we got these great numbers, we still have a long way to go. 2,500 is too high. And there is a disproportionate burden being borne by the black and Latino community of this city. That’s not fair, that’s not necessary, and it needs to change. But when we aim for disease elimination, we eliminate disparities. We make it zero for everyone.

So, we need to not let up. We need to keep going. And that’s why it’s our collective responsibility to end the epidemic.

At the same time, there are some individuals who we need to acknowledge for their wonderful contributions over the years. And it’s my pleasure now to invite the awardees this year to the stage – if they could begin to come up.

I’m going to – I have the great privilege as Health Commissioner to recognize the work of five individuals and one organization who have been tirelessly serving their communities for years. And I am going to tell you a little bit about each one of them. And then I’m going to ask you to exit with me. I’ll give you your awards offstage.

So, let me first acknowledge Aisha Diori. Where is she? There she is – for her dedication to improving health and promoting health equity, social justice for the LGBTQ community, youth communities of color, and for her tireless efforts to create healthy spaces for LGBTQ communities in the house, ballroom, and Kiki scene. Thank you, Aisha.

[Applause]

Cristina Herrera – there she is – for her dedication to combating the spread of HIV, and her tremendous commitment to the LGBTQ health, transgender health, and the health of gender nonconforming communities. She is a champion of transgender health.

[Applause]

And my colleague, and now moving to activist – I imagine if he ever – many people move between these – Daniel O’Connell – for his tireless efforts to combat the AIDS epidemic since the beginning, for his unwavering commitment to ending the epidemic by 2020.

[Applause]

Gina Quattrochi – and you’re – represented today by her dear friend [inaudible], who is the Assistant Director of the Bailey-Holt House and a long-time friend of Gina’s. Gina is being honored for her dedication to providing stable housing for people living with HIV in order to live fulfilling lives, and also for her tireless commitment to ending the dual crisis of homelessness and AIDS.

[Applause]

And the last, but not least, individual – it’s a great pleasure to acknowledge Ginny Shubert for her dedication –

[Applause]

– To finding stable housing for people living with HIV who often are turned away by other programs – for her commitment to achieving viral load suppression for all people living with HIV.

And for the organization –

[Applause]

Yes, let’s give all four individuals a round of applause. We need to give people personal acknowledgment for the work that they do.

And now for the organization – he Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center – about which so many people have already spoken today – for its commitment to creating a safe space and a home for LGBTQ and gender nonconforming communities, and for all the programs that they provide in terms of interventions, social services, and support systems.

All of you are going to be the people who stand up to whatever is coming our way because we in New York City know how to stand up and fight back. With that, I would like to invite the awardees to exit with me.

And I would like to introduce – I can’t call him my sidekick, that’s not accurate – our towering Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis.

[Applause]

You all know him. He combines excellence as a clinician, as a scientist, and as an advocate. It’s my great pleasure to turn it over to Dr. D.