As you know, the sequester, those automatic across-the-board budget cuts that will kill 36,000 people living with AIDS this year who would have otherwise survived, have taken effect because Speaker Boehner and Congress decided to protect Wall Street and the wealthiest 1% instead of poor and people living with HIV/AIDS.  This will have a devastating direct effect on the global AIDS pandemic.

To stand up against these draconian cuts, members of Health GAP, Queerocracy, ACT UP NY and ACT UP Philly stripped naked in the House Speaker Boehner’s office in the Longworth Building in Washington D.C. on November 27th,  2012, in an act of civil disobedience. Our goal was to expose the “naked truth” about what sequestration cuts will mean to AIDS programs.  We must remember that this demonstration was not primarily about nudity, but was intended to be a smart tactic that would bring media attention to these deadly cuts. 

We have been told that all seven of us will be found guilty of a misdemeanor. We will have to continue to make trips to DC from NYC, Providence, Tampa and Philadelphia to attend court and potentially perform community service. Our fines will be several hundred dollars each.  

We are asking you to do 2 things:

1. Call Senator Mikulski, 202-224-4654 and demand that she restore cuts to programs that will end AIDS in the FY13 and 14 budget processes. Call him at (202) 224‐3542

2. Please donate here to help with the legal fees of the Naked seven.