Petrelis Files

Bush's Gay Global AIDS Chief Talks in S.F. Today

President Bush's openly gay global AIDS coordinator, Mark Dybul, speaks today at the main branch of the San Francisco public library.

You may recall that when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice swore him in as America's ambassador for HIV/AIDS issues, she and First Lady Laura Bush warmly welcomed Dybul, his family, including his companion Jason and his mother-in-law, at the ceremony.

From the State Department's transcript of the ceremony:

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Thank you very much. I am truly honored and delighted to have the opportunity to swear in Mark Dybul as our next Global AIDS Coordinator. I am pleased to do that in the presence of Mark's parents, Claire and Richard; his partner, Jason; and his mother-in-law, Marilyn. You have wonderful family to support you, Mark, and I know that's always important to us. Welcome.

He's speaking at a forum organized by Rep. Tom Lantos and I plan to be there to hear what both men have to say. Let's hope questions and comments will be allowed from the audience.

From the Congressman's press release:

“The San Francisco Bay Area knows the devastation of AIDS like no other place in America,” Lantos said. “From our dawning awareness in the 1980s through the heroic efforts of researchers and caregivers to address the crisis, we have been in the vanguard of responsiveness to this public health challenge. Sadly, HIV and AIDS are still among us in this country, but they have wreaked unprecedented destruction abroad. The United States has taken the lead in every aspect of the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the people of our region should take part in the discussion of what is being done – and what the next steps could be.”

The co-author of the 2003 legislation that funded the $15 billion Global AIDS program, Lantos will spearhead the effort to reauthorize the program next year. One of the legislation’s provisions created a Global AIDS Coordinator position at the State Department. The new coordinator, Ambassador Mark R. Dybul, will be the featured speaker at the event, along with experts in the field.

The forum will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street (at Grove). Members of the public can get further information from Congressman Lantos’ office at 650-342-0300.