Chris Garner/MEDILL
David Furnish, chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, speaks at the 2011 United States Conference on AIDS in Chicago.
Elton John's partner tells conference he hopes to see AIDS cure in son's lifetime
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=194996by Chris Garner
Nov 10, 2011
“At the core of the fight against AIDS is the fight against homophobia,” said David Furnish, chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and keynote speaker, at the U.S. Conference on AIDS in Chicago Thursday.
He spoke as a part of the National Minority AIDS Council’s 15th annual event to spread awareness of the disease, treatment and prevention. Though AIDS affects men and women, the council focused this year’s event on the effects it has on gay and bisexual men.
“This is the first time in the epidemic’s history that the number of infections of Latino gay and bisexual men outpaced African-American women,” said Paul A. Kawata, executive director of the council.
African-Americans account for almost half of all the people living with HIV in the United States, according to the council’s statistics.The Hispanic community has the second highest rate of HIV infections and has had an increase in HIV infections that was 2.5 times the rate of whites as of 2009, the most recently available data.
Furnish, who is Elton John’s partner, said that homophobia a is the reason gay young men still put themselves in danger by having unprotected sex.
“This risky behavior is driven by bigotry,” Furnish said. “In many American cities as many as 1 in 5 gay and bisexual men are HIV positive and half of those who are HIV positive have no awareness that they have the disease.”
As of 2009 20,676 Chicagoans reported that they are living with HIV/AIDS. According to the National Minority AIDS Council, male-to-male sex accounted for the largest proportion of HIV cases.
Though there is no cure for the disease, Furnish said that organizations have helped to prevent the spread of AIDS by answering “shame with love.” He cited two Chicago organizations for their leading roles in AIDS awareness and prevention, Walgreen Co. and Johnson Publishing, Inc. Both have joined Greater than AIDS, a national support organization in providing free testing and campaign promotion.
Furnish said that cuts in state budgets have stalled advancements in slowing infection rates and treatment of those with the disease. He mentioned Illinois as a state that had, cut funding that would have provided medication and treatment to newly infected patients in underserved and marginalized communities.
Furnish said the National Institutes of Health reported earlier this year that HIV positive individuals who receive effective anti-retro viral treatments are 96 percent less likely to pass the disease to their sexual partners.
“I expect my son Zachary to live to see a world without AIDS,” Furnish said.
The conference will continue through Sunday at the Sheraton Chicago and Towers.
He spoke as a part of the National Minority AIDS Council’s 15th annual event to spread awareness of the disease, treatment and prevention. Though AIDS affects men and women, the council focused this year’s event on the effects it has on gay and bisexual men.
“This is the first time in the epidemic’s history that the number of infections of Latino gay and bisexual men outpaced African-American women,” said Paul A. Kawata, executive director of the council.
African-Americans account for almost half of all the people living with HIV in the United States, according to the council’s statistics.The Hispanic community has the second highest rate of HIV infections and has had an increase in HIV infections that was 2.5 times the rate of whites as of 2009, the most recently available data.
Furnish, who is Elton John’s partner, said that homophobia a is the reason gay young men still put themselves in danger by having unprotected sex.
“This risky behavior is driven by bigotry,” Furnish said. “In many American cities as many as 1 in 5 gay and bisexual men are HIV positive and half of those who are HIV positive have no awareness that they have the disease.”
As of 2009 20,676 Chicagoans reported that they are living with HIV/AIDS. According to the National Minority AIDS Council, male-to-male sex accounted for the largest proportion of HIV cases.
Though there is no cure for the disease, Furnish said that organizations have helped to prevent the spread of AIDS by answering “shame with love.” He cited two Chicago organizations for their leading roles in AIDS awareness and prevention, Walgreen Co. and Johnson Publishing, Inc. Both have joined Greater than AIDS, a national support organization in providing free testing and campaign promotion.
Furnish said that cuts in state budgets have stalled advancements in slowing infection rates and treatment of those with the disease. He mentioned Illinois as a state that had, cut funding that would have provided medication and treatment to newly infected patients in underserved and marginalized communities.
Furnish said the National Institutes of Health reported earlier this year that HIV positive individuals who receive effective anti-retro viral treatments are 96 percent less likely to pass the disease to their sexual partners.
“I expect my son Zachary to live to see a world without AIDS,” Furnish said.
The conference will continue through Sunday at the Sheraton Chicago and Towers.
Elton John performs during his Nov. 8 concert at Palats Sportu in Kyiv with his program "The Million Dollar Piano" (UNIAN)
Legendary British singer Sir Elton John and Olena Pinchuk, famous in her own right, talked on Nov. 9 about their joint charitable project to help Ukrainian girls and young women who are homeless or destitute.
“This project will help the most vulnerable group, the group with the highest risk of HIV and AIDS contamination,” said Pinchuk, head of the Anti-AIDS Foundation. She is also the daughter of ex-President Leonid Kuchma and wife of billionaire Viktor Pinchuk.
The press conference came the day after John’s sold-out concert at Palats Sportu in Kyiv. The singer’s friendship with the Pinchuks, as well as their shared charitable interests, has led to his occasional visits to Ukraine.
John was in the nation in 2009, when he unsuccessfully tried to adopt a boy named Lev after visiting an orphanage in Makiyivka with Pinchuk. Ukrainian authorities declared him ineligible to adopt because of his age and sexual orientation.
Pledging to visit the boy after the concert, John’s first mission was to unveil the charity in Kyiv.
Ukraine has Europe’s worst AIDS epidemic with 1.3 percent of Ukrainians above 15 infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to the United Nations. John’s call to fight the virus in Ukraine coincided with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech in Maryland, the U.S., in which she called on world governments to create an “AIDS-free generation” in the world by 2015.
Alyona Zhuk
“This project will help the most vulnerable group, the group with the highest risk of HIV and AIDS contamination,” said Pinchuk, head of the Anti-AIDS Foundation. She is also the daughter of ex-President Leonid Kuchma and wife of billionaire Viktor Pinchuk.
The press conference came the day after John’s sold-out concert at Palats Sportu in Kyiv. The singer’s friendship with the Pinchuks, as well as their shared charitable interests, has led to his occasional visits to Ukraine.
John was in the nation in 2009, when he unsuccessfully tried to adopt a boy named Lev after visiting an orphanage in Makiyivka with Pinchuk. Ukrainian authorities declared him ineligible to adopt because of his age and sexual orientation.
Pledging to visit the boy after the concert, John’s first mission was to unveil the charity in Kyiv.
Ukraine has Europe’s worst AIDS epidemic with 1.3 percent of Ukrainians above 15 infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to the United Nations. John’s call to fight the virus in Ukraine coincided with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech in Maryland, the U.S., in which she called on world governments to create an “AIDS-free generation” in the world by 2015.
Alyona Zhuk
British singer Elton John stands next to a placard bearing a picture of a woman diagnosed with the HIV virus, prior to a press conference in Kiev on Nov. 9. The founders of the Elton John Foundation (EJAF) and Ukrainian businesswoman and sponsor Elena Pinchuk, ANTIAIDS Foundation (EPAAF), presented to journalists their second joint charitable project. Its goal is to help girls and women who spent most of their lives in the street, to have access to HIV testing and to receive social, medical and legal assistance. (AFP)
British singer Elton John talked about his charity project and gay rights the day after his concert in Kyiv (Anya Korbut)
Journalists shooting Elton John during the press-conference in Kyiv on Nov. 9 (Anya Korbut)
Elton John tacks more concerts onto worldwide schedule
http://www.soundspike.com/story/3289/elton-john-tacks-more-concerts-onto-worldwide-schedule/
Currently finishing up an eastern European leg, legendary performer Elton John has added a few more U.S. dates to his lengthy run, including some additional "Million Dollar Piano" shows in Las Vegas.
Since last check, a two-night stand Jan. 6-7 in Honolulu, HI, has been added, as well as a Feb. 1 performance in Lima, Peru -- John's first in the country. The rock icon will then return to his "Million Dollar Piano" residency at Las Vegas' Colosseum at Caesars Palace, performing two weekends in February and two in April.
For all but the Las Vegas shows, John will be joined by his experienced band, which is comprised of Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Bob Birch, John Mahon and Kim Bullard, as well as the 2CELLOS (Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic) and four backing singers (Rose Stone, Lisa Stone, Tata Vega and Jean Witherspoon).
John's most recent studio album, a collaboration with Leon Russell dubbed "The Union," surfaced last October. The Grammy-nominated 16-song set peaked at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 and marks John's 30th studio release.
11 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Center Stozice
14 - Moscow, Russia - Crocus City Hall
18 - Jakarta, Indonesia - Sentul International Convention Centre
20 - Singapore, Singapore - Singapore Indoor Stadium
22 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Arena of Stars
25 - Dunedin, New Zealand - New Forsyth Barr Stadium
26, 27 - Sydney, Australia - Lyric Theatre, Star City
30 - Brisbane, Australia - Entertainment Centre
December 2011
3, 4 - Hunter Valley, Australia - Hope Estate
6, 7 - Melbourne, Australia - Rod Laver Arena
9 - Adelaide, Australia - Coopers Amphitheatre
11 - Perth, Australia - Burswood Dome
January 2012
6, 7 - Honolulu, HI - Blaisdell Arena
February 2012
*1 - Lima, Peru - Estadio Nacional
9-11 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
14, 16-18 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
April 2012
13-15 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
19-21 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
June 2012
9 - Chesterfield, England - Chesterfield Football Club B2NET Stadium
30 - Ludwigslust, Germany - Schlosspark
July 2012
3 - Oberhausen, Germany - Konig-Pilsner Arena
14 - Wurzburg, Germany - Residenzplatz
Neil Diamond and Elton John coming to Honolulu
http://kealakai.byuh.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4367&Itemid=150
| Written by Camron Stockford ~ Multimedia Journalist | |
| Friday, 11 November 2011 | |
| Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends Elton John and Neil Diamond have both announced shows from their respective tours that will be taking place at Honolulu's Neal S. Blaisdell Arena this upcoming Winter season. John will be performing on January 6th and 7th beginning at 8 p.m. He was originally only scheduled to play the 7th, but demand was so high that an additional date was added. Diamond will be performing on February 16th.Tickets range between $39 and $139 for Elton John, and between $59-$159 for Neil Diamond, and are currently available online. Molly Harris, a freshman from Logan, Utah, majoring in marine biology, said, “I think I would rather see Neil Diamond over Elton John because I think it would be interesting to see the audience there and it would be cool to see Neil Diamond on stage.” Elton John is known as a rock and roll superstar, who has been performing for nearly five decades. Since 1969, John has played almost 3000 concerts worldwide. John has also recorded 25 platinum records, released 29 consecutive Top 40 hit singles, has sold more than 250 million records worldwide, and holds the record for best selling single, “Candle In The Wind '97”, which sold over 35 million copies. John was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994. He is well known for hits like “Bennie and The Jets” as well as the music featured in various Disney movies including “The Lion King”. Diamond last played in Hawaii almost 35 years ago, in November of 1976. He will be returning to perform on February 16th. Diamond has led a very successful career so far having sold over 128 million records worldwide and producing 37 songs that reached the Top 10, including the famous “Sweet Caroline.” He has recorded a total of 18 albums that went platinum. Diamond was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March of this year. If faced with choosing, Casey Rindlisbach, an undeclared freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio, said “Definitely Elton John because I loved his music in 'The Lion King' and 'Gnomeo and Juliet'.” Paige Pierson, a freshman from Denver, Colorado, undecided major, said “I'd like to see both of them because they're awesome. I think it would be really fun and they have revolutionary music that I really like, and everybody would really get into the music.” Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com, as well as at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center boxoffice. Елтон Джон через затори може пересуватися Москвою на вертольотіhttp://ua.korrespondent.net/showbiz/music/1282251-elton-dzhon-cherez-zatori-mozhe-peresuvatisya-moskvoyu-na-vertoloti |
