OFFICE OF LT. GOV. BARBARA O'BRIEN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 1, 2008

CONTACT:

Ellen Dumm, 303 866-6361 (office), 303 829-0194 (cell), ellen.dumm@state.co.us

Lt. Gov. O'Brien Rallies for World AIDS Day

Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien today lent her voice to the call for world unity in leadership and commitment in stopping HIV/AIDS.

Lt. Gov. O'Brien joined Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper at a rally today on the west steps of the Capitol. December 1 has been celebrated at World AIDS Day since 1988.

"World AIDS Day brings people together every year to remind us of those we have lost and to dedicate ourselves to keep fighting and moving toward treatments and cures," said Lt. Gov. O'Brien.

About 11,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Colorado. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that 1 in 4 people don't know they are infected. Lt. Gov. O'Brien encouraged anyone who is at-risk (sexually active, regular blood transfusions, or is using needles for drug use) to get tested.

Today's Colorado World AIDS Day event was organized by the Colorado Organization Responding to AIDS (CORA), a statewide group of service and education providers who come together to focus on collaboration and public policy.