Today is the 18th anniversary of World AIDS Day. It's also been 25 years since the first case of AIDS was documented. I'm 25 years old. For as long as I can remember, there has never been a time in my life when AIDS was not a known issue. And in the years since, the disease has grown into a global pandemic, claiming the lives of over 2.8 million people in 2005 and growing at a staggering rate.

In this day and age, turning a blind eye to AIDS is a selfish act. As we know, the disease does not discriminate, and just because you don't have it, that doesn't mean someone you know has it. Hell, they may not even know they have it. Silence and ignorance will do nothing to help the cause. There is enough information about the risks and the statistics behind the disease to no that AIDS does not discriminate. It's not a gay disease. It's not a Black disease. It's not an African disease. It's not a drug user's disease. It's a human disease. And as a human, you need to be concerned.

There are many ways to help out. For starters…get an AIDS test. The newer tests out can give you a decision in less than an hour. Less than an hour! You can write to your local congressman and push them to support legislation related to stamping out the disease. Hell, even the trendy types can support the disease by buying a specially-colored (PRODUCT)^RED item, such as a t-shirt, a watch, a cellular phone, an mp3 player or more. Even if you don't have time to spend in a clinic or money to plunk down to a charity, you can visit the Light to Unite website and light a candle. Bristol-Myers Squibb is donating $1 for every candle lit. To date, over 400,000 candles have been lit. Imagine making a difference in the fight against AIDS in ten seconds. It is possible.

The world promised to stop AIDS by 2015. What will you do?

Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.

---

Once again, the blogger community is joining together to raise awareness about the world wide AIDS epidemic. Please click here to view a list that will be updated throughout the day of individuals raising their united voices.

---

Check out past World AIDS Day entries on BlackGayBlogger.com.

World AIDS Day 2005 World AIDS Day 2005: I Wear The Ribbon

World AIDS Day 2004 Link and Think. And Re-Think. Link and Think. Think This Will Happen? Link and Think. And Think Of A Better Excuse, Chump.

World AIDS Day 2003 Link and Think. But think first. Link and Think. And Think Again. Link and Think. The Links Edition.