Yesterday over thousand people blocked Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood  in front of the entrance to Hollywood Forever Cemetery to protest severe cuts to HIV/ADS healthcare funding and the elimination of all funding for prevention.

Here are some ugly facts:*Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed a $55.5 million cut for health care programs for Californians living with HIV/AIDS for 2009-10, and a further $58.9 million cut for 2010-11. Additionally, he has proposed cutting $24.6 million in HIV prevention and education services. 

*These proposed cuts will limit the AIDS Drug Assistance Program which provides HIV treatment for nearly 35,000 Californians. Without this funding, these patients will not have medication. They will die. Make no mistake. Must we remind you of the days before the “cocktail”? This is, literally, a matter of life and death.  

*Proposed cuts will eliminate many HIV counseling and testing programs, epidemiological studies and surveillance, the Therapeutic Monitoring Program and home- and community-based care programs.  

 There’s  another demonstration  in San Diego, Wednesday, June 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. in front of the State of California Office Building located at 1350 Front St. between A & Ash streets in Downtown San Diego.   San Diego County, unlike many Calfornia counties, receives no funding from the Center for Disease Control, so they are really gonna be hard hit by the proposed cuts. You know, Miss California could really do some good here and maybe earn a little earthly and heavenly redemption…call or write your Assembly and Senate representatives.  A list of your representatives can be found at www.ca.gov.