Openly Gay Ambassador Bush AIDS

Ambassador Dr. Mark Dybul, coordinator of the United States Global AIDS program, asserted the Bush administration's commitment to fighting AIDS in undeveloped countries and dismissed some beliefs that the administration is unsympathetic or religion-oriented regarding AIDS funds during an appearance at the Commonwealth Club of California last week.

Dybul, who is openly gay, also gave a nod to the bipartisan support of the program and acknowledged the continuing generosity of the American people when it comes to foreign aid.

The plan, known as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, is the largest commitment by any country to help combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in foreign countries. The U.S. has allocated $15 billion in funds for PEPFAR and has committed to a multifaceted approach.

During his April 27 appearance, in which Dybul was questioned by Dr. Paul Volberding, chief of medical service at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a longtime AIDS physician and researcher, Dybul said AIDS is the "black death of our time," and stressed the importance of international AIDS relief as not only a humanitarian effort, but also as an investment in the security of the U.S.