AIT Hosts U.S. HIV/AIDS Activist Regan Hofmann

PR0740E | Date: 2007-07-11

The American Institute in Taiwan is sponsoring a speaking program by prominent HIV/AIDS activist Regan Hofmann from July 11 through 14, 2007.   Hofmann is the Editor-in-Chief of POZ Magazine (www.poz.com), a New York-based monthly publication dedicated to supporting People Living with HIV and AIDS. 

Hofmann will speak with Taiwan officials, NGO representatives, business leaders, and students at several venues in Taipei and Kaohsiung on the importance of combating HIV/AIDS discrimination and stigma.  Infected at the age of 28 and living with HIV for 10 years, Regan Hofmann believes that combating stigma is a key component to effective management of this global pandemic.  "Fear of HIV/AIDS stigma prevents a person from talking about HIV/AIDS, which, in turn, hampers education and prevention efforts, such as HIV testing, and compromises the level of care people can get for themselves," says Hofmann. 

"The United States believes that the global scourge of HIV/AIDS demands a global response, which is why President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has dedicated over U.S. $45 billion to fighting the problem," says AIT Spokesman Thomas Hodges.  "We hope that by bringing to Taiwan such an eminent HIV/AIDS expert, we can share the U.S. experience in fighting HIV/AIDS stigma with a variety of audiences here in Taiwan."

Members of the media are invited to a media availability with Regan Hofmann organized by the Lung Ying-tai Cultural Foundation on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Yue-han Hall, 110 Jinhua Street, Taipei [台北市金華街110號月涵堂].  For more information and registration, please contact Viola Sung, Lung Ying-tai Cultural Foundation - Tel: 3322-4907 ext. 14. (http://www.civictaipei.org)

Hofmann will speak at an HIV/AIDS Summit organized for local business leaders and NGO representatives by the Taiwan AIDS Foundation.  The Summit, which will focus on "The Human and Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS on Business in Taiwan," will be held Friday, July 13, 2007, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the Grand Hyatt Taipei.  AIT Director Stephen M. Young and Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Chen will deliver opening remarks.  For more information, contact Mr. Huang Cheng-wei, Taiwan AIDS Foundation - Tel: 2559-2059 ext. 12 or visit their website,
http://www.taiwanaids.org.tw.

On Thursday, July 12, Hofmann will visit Kaohsiung for a roundtable discussion entitled "The American Experience in Combating HIV & AIDS Discrimination and Stigma" from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at AIT's Kaohsiung branch.  Students in Kaohsiung are encouraged to phone 07-238-7744 to join the discussion, which will be conducted in English with Chinese interpretation.

Regan Hofmann is also scheduled to speak at the Lung Ying-tai Cultural Foundation's Taipei Salon [龍應台文化基金會思沙龍] entitled "Global Citizen:  What Do I Have to Do with AIDS?" on Saturday, July 14, 2007, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Yue-han Hall, 110 Jinhua Street, Taipei [台北市金華街110號月涵堂].  Dr. Lung will moderate; Nicholas Papp, AIT's American Cultural Center Director, and Nicole Yang, an AIDS activist with Harmony Home will also speak at the program.  The program is open to the public and will be in English only.  For more information, contact Viola Sung [宋曉薇], Lung Ying-tai Cultural Foundation - Tel: 3322-4907 ext. 14; www.civictaipei.org.

High-resolution photograph of Regan Hofmann is available on AIT website http://www.ait.org.tw.