What Will NYC's Next Mayor Do About HIV?

GMHC hosted a mayoral candidates forum in New York City on July 23 to bring to light candidates positions on issues ranging from healthcare to youth homelessness as they relate to the HIV epidemic.

The unpredented forum, the first of its kind to ask major political candidates weigh in on issues around HIV, AIDS, and LGBT health, featured six of the 12 candidates who are qualified to appear on the primary ballot. It moderated by Oriol Gutierrez, the editor-in-chief of POZ Magazine.

The 2013 Mayoral Candidate Survey Report was released the same week, detailing positions from five of the mayoral candidates: former city councilmember Sal Albanese, New York City comptroller John Liu, city council speaker Christine Quinn, former city comptroller Bill Thompson, and former U.S. representative Anthony Weiner. The survey was divided into eight sections, including housing, older adults living with HIV, education, and public safety. All but one section asked candidates to state their positions on a variety of issues with an opportunity for comments from each candidate at the end of each section.

The survey showed that all five candidates who completed the survey support measures that would affect the almost 114,000 people living with HIV in New York City. There were some standouts, however, such as Quinn, who supports New York City’s HIV/AIDS Service Administration’s current requirement that clients seek drug counseling in order to qualify for enhanced rental assistance, and Liu, the only candidate to support passing currently proposed legislation that would reform the local police department’s “stop and frisk” policy.

Both the full survey and a one-page summary can be found in PDF form on the GMHC website.