Thaindian News

By Ranjan Bhaduri
Dec 3, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Actress Liza Minnelli was seen on the same stage with some other celebrities and media persons at Washington Square Park as they assembled to celebrate the World AIDS Day. The event took place on Wednesday. The actress was accompanied by actress Stockard Channing, model Tyson Beckford and noted designer Kenneth Cole. The celebs spoke at length about the need to treat AIDS patients equally without any discrimination. The ace actress said that she decided to join the AIDS fighting campaign after her fellow actor and friend Rock Hudson was diagnosed with the fatal ailment in the 1980s. The Academy award-winning actress said that she finds it hard to believe that more than two decades have passed since she decided to join the AIDS fighting movement.

The event attended by the celebrities was meant for sending a message to the health organizations and governments to treat AIDS like any other disease and encourage AIDS afflicted people to seek treatment without hesitation or fear. Even today a huge number of AIDS afflicted people develop cold feet before seeking treatment mostly in the developing countries. Keith Powell, the renowned “30 Rock” star read out the testimony of a Ugandan man who is living with the killer disease. The ordeal of the gay men who are HIV positive are even tougher, he said.

Even in USA where people are much more aware about AIDS prevention and treatment, the residents still grapple with the existing social stigma and face isolation from the conservative and orthodox lot. Actress Liza Minnelli gave a speech saying that finding a cure for the ailment and giving AIDS patients equal rights will go a long way in eradicating the menace from the world.