25 faces: Leaders fighting HIV/AIDS in Colorado
July 31, 2012 | 2:29 pm
(Updated: February 25, 2013 | 6:33 pm)
As Colorado embarks on it’s 25th AIDS Walk, we take a moment to recognize local citizens who have made immeasurable differences in the lives of Coloradans touched by HIV/AIDS. They’re the advocates and workers – HIV-positive and HIV-negative alike – who have given their careers, hours or efforts to slowing the virus’ spread and improving the lives of those afflicted.
The phrase is trite, but it’s true now more than ever: It takes a village. All kinds. Without doctors, educators, activists, elected officials, caregivers and concerned citizens and volunteers dedicating time and work to the cause, we’d still be in the dark days when AIDS was a terrifying mystery taking lives as frequently as it once did. Our 25 faces of HIV/AIDS were recommended and chosen by Colorado AIDS Project and Out Front among Colorado residents who have worked in and alongside AIDS Walk and CAP, and from differing perspectives, they come to a common message: It’s not over. The fight is still on against HIV; against ignorance, stigma, illness and death – for awareness, compassion, health and safety, and most of all – hope.
The list:
1 Jalene Salazar, 2 Robert George, 3 Rob Sterrett, 4 Matt Adrian, 5 Mary Salsich, 6 Jeff Basinger, 7 Richard Blair, 8 Darell Vigil, 9 Jane Bohlen, 10 Mark Thrun, 11 Ryan Cross, 12 Ken Bazan, 13 Brother Jeff Fard, 14 Mary Beth Luedtke, 15 Coryn Fairchild, 16 Briceson Ducharme, 17 Bill Mead, 18 Sean Wolfe, 19 Dan Reirden, 20 Diana Cable, 21 Dayna Menninger, 22 Jeff Thormodsgaard, 23 Ellis McFadden, 24 Allan Frederick, 25 Phil Price
1 Jalene Salazar 
For more than four and a half years, Jalene Salazar has provided support to people of color, immigrants and undocumented individuals who have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
Salazar stumbled into the realm of HIV/AIDS support during a job hunt and began working for Servicios de la Raza, which serves the Denver Metro community with a variety of programs. Prior to landing the job, Salazar had no real exposure to HIV/AIDS and hadn’t learned much about it, she said. But now, serving the HIV/AIDS community is her passion.
Salazar is currently the program coordinator for a program called- the people – which serves a wide crosssection of the Latino population living with HIV/AIDS. Her work also branches into medical care management as well as several other departments.
She notes many challenges experienced by the community she serves. Though Denver has a great medical network that has helped people with HIV/AIDS to live longer, happier and healthier lives, she said, stigmas still have powerful impacts on people of color.
This is why Salazar is so committed to breaking down barriers and offering support to this specific community. Many of those that she comes into contact with are alone with no support system or family to be there for them, she said. She compares the community to a supportive family and loves seeing people grow, from the moment they find out their HIV/AIDS status to the moment they can finally live independently and successfully.
Salazar said that immigrants, refugees and undocumented individuals within the community find it hard to meet their basic needs after infection. It seems that they often have to move back to their country of origin due to a lack of affordable housing at a certain point. This to her, is an issue that needs more attention than it is getting from the population.
To Salazar, the key is education and testing: two factors that can break down barriers and improve lives in the HIV/AIDS community. If that happens, she said, people will be able to show love, as well as receive love, without fear.
To the Editor,
As I read through your list of 25 the most influential people in the HIV/AIDS arena, I was disappointed to see my friend, Arthur Powers, and his early colleagues missing from this list. I think this article is sorely lacking for depth and seems to be an exercise in lazy journalism. The 25 you picked indeed, do deserve recognition, but frankly, the only reason most are on this list, is because they stood on the shoulders of giants.
You completely missed the boat in recognizing the people who created the Architecture of Care that today, is the HIV/AIDS support structure. Below are just a few names of people who contributed to:
* Barb Cardell, Heads the Womens AIDS National Network.
* Tom Witte, co-orginator of ACT UP Denver, Founder of Colorado for Sane AIDS policies, (CSAP) which became the Coalition for Political Responsibility, which was the founding organization from ACTUP Denver, EPOC, Colorado Gay & Lesbian Task Force (1989).
* Arthur Powers, who since 1986 has lobbied our State Legislature to protect persons living with HIV/AIDS, and, who, at his own expense has done the genuinely difficult work of writing legislation, lobbying and working with both Democrats and Republicans to save lives. Since 1986, he has secured millions of state dollars to benefit persons living with HIV. People receiving state assistance with their HIV medication should thank Arthur Powers. He successfully lobbied to stop the automatic testing of HIV for people entering hospitals, was able to secure anonomyous HIV testing. Before his efforts, if you tested positive, your name automatically was (and still is) entered into a state registry. He was instrumental in the founding of many of today’s HIV/AIDS organizations. We have anonomyous HIV testing because of his work, and together with Tom Witte and other early visionaries, they created the structures that today service our community. He deserves our thanks, and recognition.
* Barry Gaspard originator and co-founder of Gay & Lesbian Health Alliance of Denver, in 1982. He helped get Colorado orgainzed for the coming epidemic before AIDS hit Colorado. (first person diagnosed in Colorado with AIDS was in May 1982)
* Michael Dorosch runs the Shaddow Cliff Retreat for persons living with HIV.
* Paul Hunter, was an attorney, along with Bill Renard, who was intigral as a supporter of the Coalition for Sane AIDS Policies-Coalition for Political Responsibility in 1986/87.
There are many to honor, and these are but a few of our early leaders who shaped the discussion surrounding HIV/AIDS before it arrived in Colorado. You do these survivors, and the memories of those who fought and died so that others may live a great disservice by not even mentioning their names. And, if you didn’t know their names, then shame on you for being lazy journalists.
I hope that you recifty this injustice, dig deep and honor these people who’s contribution is today’s legacy.
Regards,
Craig Dietz