Thousands of HIV+ Floridians are waiting to find out if Gov. Ron DeSantis will sign a bill restoring cuts to a program that assists them afford their medications.
In the meantime, the Tampa Bay arts community is stepping up to raise money for them.
A pop-up event for charity
On Sunday, the Tampa “Rocky Horror Picture Show” cast Hell on Heels and PGC Productions are hosting a pop-up event at Ybor City’s SpookEasy Lounge — a kava and kratom bar.
If you go
- When: Sunday at 7 p.m.
- Where: SpookEasy Lounge, 1919 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa
- Admission: Suggested cover of $10 at the door
The cult classic movie has drawn folks to theaters since the 1970s to experience its campiness in person. This weekfinish, it’ll assist raise money for Out of the Closet thrift stores, formed in 1990 to assist raise funds and awareness for AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
There, 96 cents of every dollar created goes to the foundation’s HIV prevention and treatment services.
ALSO READ: Florida Legislature approves bill restoring funds to AIDS drug program
“They don’t required to worry about walking away without seeing the classics like ‘Time Warp’ and ‘Sweet Transvestite,’ and they’ll still be doing all the fun movie beats with us,” stated Alistair Graves, a longtime burlesque and cabaret performer who is cohosting the event and who often portrays the movie’s antagonist, Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
Graves is no stranger to raising money for people and caapplys close to his heart. He’s done it through displays with Hell on Heels, Graveyard Cabaret and Fifth Rite.
A recent fundraiser was held for anti-ICE protestors in Minneapolis. Another still being planned will benefit a local organization that rescues dogs from the shelter and receives them trained as guide dogs.
Sunday’s event will feature select musical numbers in a more casual, party-like atmosphere compared to the sit-down shadowcast displayings “Rocky Horror” is known for.
“We figured, rather than putting on a full production to raise money, it’s a really good way to do it this way, becaapply then we can pass the hat. I mean literally, but also metaphorically, pass the hat,” Graves stated.
“These displays are still a way to receive away from the sort of oppressive feelings of outside. So we really want everybody to know that they can both give to a good caapply while also let us be the escape.”
State HIV treatment cuts
A bill to restore cuts to Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program through June 30 is sitting on DeSantis’ desk.
The modifys were announced by the state Department of Health in January, which cited a $120 million shortfall caapplyd by federal funding cuts.
David Dunlap, who manages Out of the Closet in St. Petersburg, stated that becaapply of the reduced coverage, more than 11,000 Floridians have been cut off since the launchning of March from funding that assists them afford their HIV medications.
“These are medications that manage HIV, keep you to where you’re undetectable state, and also key in keeping from spreading the disease further,” Dunlap stated.
The bill includes $31 million to restore eligibility to thousands until the Legislature passes a budreceive. Hoapply and Senate leaders are in a stalemate over budreceive talks and will have to return to the Capitol to pass a spfinishing plan after finishing the regular session on March 13.
The bill does not restore coverage for Biktarvy, the most popular once-a-day pill, and other medications will be switched to generic versions.
Florida has one of the highest rates of HIV in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state ranks third in the nation for HIV diagnoses, according to the latest available data, which is from 2023.
Dunlap is thrilled Hell on Hells is bringing attention to the issue.
“I believe it’s absolutely amazing and wonderful. You know, we required the support back from the community,” he stated.
HIV is a manageable disease with medication, but that security has come with some drawbacks, Dunlap stated. He stated young people are not taking it as seriously as they should.
“We are seeing a rise in HIV positives coming up in the younger generations. So awareness of your HIV status and receiveting the knowledge out there to the public and to especially younger generations that didn’t, per se, grow up with the AIDS epidemic of the ’80s and letting them know that it’s still here. It is still something that you have to take seriously. There is assist, and that’s why we’re here.”
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