Observer » AIDS

Paris Hilton Says Gay Men Are Disgusting, Have AIDS, Because She’s Worried for Their Health

Drew Grant — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:23:02 -0400

Paris Hilton with Johnny Wujek, a gay man who, by her definition, probably has AIDS. (Getty)

This is one of those cases where no one comes out looking good: a cab driver in New York thought it was his lucky day when Paris Hilton flagged him down, and seeing an opportunity to make a couple extra bucks, secretly recorded her entire conversation with a friend to sell to TMZ. Classy! Of course, if the heiress had just been discussing her latest perfume line, or the singularity, or how much money she plans on donating to the Tesla Science Museum (you know, normal Paris Hilton things), than the guy would have gone home empty-handed, like sleazeball citizen paparazzi deserve to.

Unfortunately, Ms. Hilton was interrupted in her meditation of quantum physics by her friend, who brought up the gay men friend finder, Grindr. "Gay guys are the horniest people in the world ... they're disgusting," Ms. Hilton said, according to TMZ, which obtained the tape, obviously. Unfortunately, the quote continues.

Most of them probably have AIDS ... I would be so scared if I was a gay guy ... you'll like die of AIDS.

Amazingly, Ms. Hilton's rep tried to spin their client's homophobia as a safe-sex message:

Paris Hilton’s comments were to express that it is dangerous for anyone to have unprotected sex that could lead to a life-threatening disease. The conversation became heated, after a close gay friend told her in a cab ride, a story about a gay man who has AIDS and is knowingly having unprotected sex. He also discussed a website that encourages random sex by gay men with strangers.

Grindr is a geosocial app geared toward gay, bisexual and curious men, designed to let you meet attractive/compatible guys nearby. If that concept upsets Paris Hilton so much, wait till she hears the one about AIDS Mary. As a reminder, Paris Hilton once had to leave jail because it made her have a herpes outbreak.

A Forest Grows in the Village: Studio a+i’s AIDS Memorial Design Selected

Elise Knutsen — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:48:08 -0400

"Infinite Forest" by design team at Studio A+i

With all the negative attention surrounding Rudin Managment's plan to turn the old St. Vincent's hospital into condos, there has been one piece about which people have been genuinely excited—even if it is not officially part of the plan: a new AIDS Memorial Park proposed for a triangle of land at the corner of 7th Avenue and 12th Street.

Today, the AIDS Memorial Park Design Competition jury announced the contest winner and selected a local design team from 475 submissions from around the world. The Brooklyn-based crew, studio a+i, proposed a design called "infinite forest." Stands of trees are set against polished surfaces reflecting the "forest" on-and-on as well as those inside. It creates a space of quiet contemplation that hides the busy city beyond.

One park, many places.

"The winning design creates a space for reflection, awareness and recognition, while acknowledging the history of the disease," jury chair and 9/11 Memorial designer Michael Arad said in a statement.

Studio a+i is made up of Mateo Paiva, Lily Lim, John Thurtle, Insook Kim, and Esteban Erlich, and their design was rendered by Guillaume Paturel. According to their website, the designers have created both retail and residential spaces around the city. Previous projects include a Tribeca loft, french clothing brand Zadig and Voltaire's Mercer Street store and the Ronnybrook Milk Bar at Chelsea Market.

"The winning concept inspires us, and is the starting point for an iterative process to design a green oasis with an AIDS memorial for the community and New York City," memorial co-founders Christopher Tepper and Paul Kelterborn said. Three runners up and 12 honorable mentions were also awarded to competing designs.

The only remaining question is whether Bill Rudin will build it. He seems obliged. After all, the AIDS memorial project has helped shore-up some support for his development project.

Update: Mr. Rudin is eager to work with AIDS activists on incorporating elements of their proposal into his. Considering a new design would require an entirely new public-review process, this specific memorial seems to stand less of a chance of actually getting built, as it would take at least another year to be approved. Below is Rudin Management's statement:

Our neighborhood park design – which was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Community Board 2, the Borough President’s Office and the City Planning Commission – allows for a commemoration of both those effected by the AIDS epidemic and of St. Vincent’s Hospital for its 160 years of service to the community and its steadfast commitment to care for those suffering from HIV/AIDS. We stand ready to continue our work with all stakeholders to determine how best to realize these memorial elements as part of the approved park design in a timely manner.

eknutsen@observer.com

Celebrity Twitter Blackout! With Little Money Raised, AIDS Charity Keeps Gaga and Friends From Tweeting

Nate Freeman — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:46:44 -0400

Sorry, Lady Gaga: It looks like people can survive without your 140-character bursts that you post to Twitter. And though your 7.2 million follower s have only been neglected for a day so far, they may be kept in the dark for much longer.

The global pop phenomenon was just one of the celebrities who pledged to stay off all social networking platforms until $1 million is raised for Alicia Keys' AIDS charity, Keep a Child Alive. The fundraiser - which has been dubbed "Digital Death" and has a creepy coffin-laden ad campaign as ill-advised as the name suggests it would be - began yesterday, on World AIDS Day, but so far has only raised $161,000, with momentum slipping. At that rate, Gaga, Keys, Ryan Seacrest, Elijah Wood and all the other participants will be off Twitter for over a week - probably enough time to realize we never needed their updates in the first place.

But just in case you're pining after these "dead" Twitter presences, we've got you covered! The Observer created a Twitter list of every celebrity that's sworn it off. Now, you can watch and see when they start to break their silence - there's no way they can wait until $1 million is actually raised, right?

You can visit the Keep A Child Alive site to donate to help fight AIDS in Africa and India (a good cause!) or to get these silly celebrities back microblogging (not that good of a cause!). Also, there are pictures of Ryan Seacrest in a coffin. Just saying.

nfreeman [at] observer.com | @nfreeman1234

Lady Gaga Shuns Twitter In The Name Of Charity And Goodness

Nate Freeman — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:27:18 -0400

Starting today, 7.2 million people will be deprived of something dear to their hearts: Lady Gaga's Twitter presence. The BBC reports that the world's biggest pop star will silence the site's most-followed account today as part of her hiatus from social media platforms until $1 million is raised for Keep A Child Alive, a charity supporting Aids and HIV afflicted families in Africa and India.

Gaga is just one of many high-profile celebs who have sworn off Twitter and Facebook for the greater good. Alicia Keys, who co-founded the foundation, has recruited Elijah Wood, Jennifer Hudson, Ryan Seacrest and Kim and Khloe Kardashian, among others.

The fundraiser is slated to take place Wednesday, in order to coincide with World Aids Day.

While her Twitter followers - who she refers to endearingly as "Little Monsters" - may empty their bank accounts for the noble cause as they suffer from Gaga Tweet Withdrawal, what about the millions more who want her to stay off Twitter? Can there be a dueling charity we can donate to if we want that to happen?

nfreeman [at] observer.com | @nfreeman1234

Nobody (But Bloomberg) Happy About AIDS Rent Veto

Matt Chaban — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:05:08 -0400

Yesterday, Governor Paterson vetoed a bill that would have capped the rents people with HIV and AIDS pay at 30 percent, calling it "my most difficult veto" but a necessary evil to keep the state's grotesque budget at bay. Today, not surprisingly, a bunch of protesters showed up outside the governor's offices here in the city to express their frustration.

"Even though I’m in a rental assistance program, I’m constantly forced to rob Peter to pay Paul. One month I pay the gas and telephone bill and the next month I pay the light bill, all the while hoping that nothing gets shut off," James Dean, who pays 62 percent of his monthly disability income toward rent, told Gothamist. Advocates now fear those in the program--many of whom pay a majority of their income toward rent despite the subsidy--could be forced into the streets, making it even harder for them to receive care, which could also become more expensive as a result, still taxing the state's limited resources.

It wasn't just the protesters who were miffed. Council Speaker Christine Quinn, along with Councilwomen Annabel Palma and Helen Foster, released a statement condemning the veto:

We are deeply disappointed to hear that last night Gov. Paterson decided not to stand up for New York’s most vulnerable citizens.
The legislation before the Governor could have provided affordable housing protection to more than 11,000 New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS--many of whom may eventually face eviction due to their high rent burdens. This bill would have provided critical relief to people living with HIV/AIDS who currently pay as much as 70 percent of their income towards rent, leaving many of them to live on about $11 a day.

But instead, these New Yorkers have been left to fend for themselves when now, in the midst of a recession, they need the most assistance.

This could even be a loser for landlords, assuming some of these thousands of apartments become vacant and they cannot be readily filled. Though tenants were paying lower rents, the city and state made up the difference.

The only person satisfied with the veto is Mayor Bloomberg, who the Times says lobbied vigorously for the rollback. "This is not the time for unfunded mandates, no matter how well-intentioned," the mayor said in a statment.

mchaban@observer.com

Director Julian Schnabel Among amfAR Honorees; Marc Jacobs and Lou Reed to Present

Joe Pompeo — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:15:37 -0400

New York artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel, along with French Vogue editor-in-chief Carine Roitfield and Bobby Shriver of the (Product)RED Campaign, will be honored by the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) at the organization’s 10th annual gala on January 31, according to Variety. Presenters for the humanitarian fete, being held at Cipriani in midtown, include Marc Jacobs and Lou Reed (although the evening’s highlight may just be a special performance by none other than Barry Manilow!). There will also be a screening of a short film about amfAR’s history and accomplishments introduced by Tony Award-winning actress and amfAR trustee Natasha Richardson.

According to a statement from amfAR, Mr. Schnabel, Ms. Roitfield and Mr. Shriver are being honored for their “vital role in increasing AIDS awareness and accelerating the pace of HIV/AIDS research.” Mr. Schnabel’s 2000 film, Before Night Falls, tells the story of the gay Cuban poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas, who in 1990 committed suicide in his Hell’s Kitchen apartment while suffering from AIDS.

New Disc Commemorates Late New Wave Opera Star and L.E.S. Icon Klaus Nomi

Joe Pompeo — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:57:28 -0400

Klaus Nomi, the influential New Wave opera singer, semi-alien, and early ‘80s Lower East Side performance icon, was one of the first gay artists to succumb to AIDS when he died in 1983, as documented in Andrew Horn’s tear-inducing, yet hilariously quirky, 2004 film The Nomi Song. Though Nomi’s career was short-lived, and his synth-infused opera music -- for lack of a better word -- bizarre, the eccentric, German-born singer’s influence was considerable, touching pop stars (Morrissey) and contemporary composers (Austria’s Olga Neuwirth) alike. Now, on the eve of what would have been Mr. Nomi’s (nee Klaus Sperber) 64th birthday on January 24, a portion of his unfinished opera, Za Bakdaz, or “Nomi Homeland,” has for the first time been made available on CD. The Village Voice reports:

In his brief career, Nomi carried the flag for freaks of many stripes, with retro-futurist performances that featured his androgynous, Sturm und Drang vocals backed by a New Wave ensemble that artfully mangled '60s Brill Building standards, classical arias, and quirky originals…

…While Nomi's two studio albums for RCA (Klaus Nomi, 1981; Simple Man, 1982) do reflect some of his otherworldly glamour, too often his astonishing vocals are lost amid formulaic backing tracks; the few extant live recordings and videos are far better, despite an often primitive sound. Za Bakdaz, just out on Heliocentric, reveals Nomi in a different light. Part experiment in playful terror, part rough draft of his unfinished glossolalic opera, this suite of home-studio recordings circa 1979—lovingly restored by cohorts Page Wood and George Elliott—is a postcard from a distant land where kitsch and high art meet head-on.

Za Bakdaz, according to the album’s official Web site, is available for purchase at several locations in Mr. Nomi’s old stomping ground: Kim’s (St. Mark’s Place), Cakeshop (Ludlow Street), Other Music (4th Street) and Rebel Rebel (West Bleeker Street).