Title
Calling for the installation of a City Historic Marker in front of the home of the AIDS Library of Philadelphia, 1233 Locust Street and for the dedication of this marker to occur in 2017 to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the AIDS Library of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Fear, stigma and discrimination characterized the initial reaction of society in the mid-1980s to the appearance of a new lethal disease which ultimately became known as AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; and
WHEREAS, This new disease arose primarily among gay men, and at that time LGBT people faced widespread discrimination and marginalization: and
WHEREAS, The City Council of Philadelphia in recognition of the disadvantaged status among lesbian and gay men passed the Gay Rights Bill in 1982, amending the Fair Practices Ordinance, to provide protection in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodation, becoming one the nation's first cities to adopt such legislation; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia under the leadership of Mayor W. Wilson Goode and City Council was one of the nation's first cities to use local funds to address the AIDS epidemic in the absence of any response from the federal government; and
WHEREAS, Among the first services requested by People with HIV/AIDS was for access to the most up-to-date information available about HIV/AIDS to deal with this health emergency; and
WHEREAS, The AIDS Library of Philadelphia, was created in 1987 to collect, organize and make available information to People with HIV/AIDS, their families, and caregivers, as well as policy makers who sought to develop a coordinated response to the epidemic and address public fears and discrimination; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphians John Cunningham and Heshie Zinman, through their professional experience and dedication, helped organize and build the AIDS Library of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The AIDS Library of Philadelphia was the nation's first library dedicated e...
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