Remarks by President Biden to Commemorate World AIDS Day, Launch the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and Kick Off the Global Fund Replenishment Process
DECEMBER 01, 2021
Location: Not determined

3:16 P.M. EST
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Please, sit down.  Mom, come on up here a minute.  Come on.  (Laughter.)  I want you to meet Gabe’s mom, who I still believe is more like his sister — (laughter) — than his mom.  She is the inspiration.  She is the reason why this young man has done such incredible things. 
 
And it’s a simple lesson — my mother always told me: Listen to your mom.  (Laughter.) 
 
MS. WHEELER-LARA:  Yes. 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  You deserve a great deal of praise.  Thank you.  (Applause.)
 
MS. WHEELER-LARA:  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  
 
THE PRESIDENT:  And one other thing before I begin my formal remarks.  I look out in the audience and I see so many people who’ve been in this battle for so long.  But the one person who I know from personal experience — having been here for more than 40 years — who has been a champion when it was viewed as political suicide to be a champion was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.  (Applause.)  Nancy, stand up.  Stand up. 
 
There was many others behind her as well.  But, Nancy — not a joke — you were the one who started that fight in a way that you took it on with such passion.  And it wasn’t — it was not — it was viewed as a political death sentence to take this issue on at the time.  But you did it.  You fundamentally changed the way we looked at this.  You even got George Bush to lead on this, too.  (Laughter.)
 
No, but all kidding aside, you — I just want to personally, in front of all these people and all the world, thank you for your incredible work.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, I’m also joined by the Second Gentleman.  He is a hell of a lawyer.  (Laughter.)  And I thank him for being here.
 
And, Mr. Secretary, thank you for your leadership of HHS.
 
I — and I want to thank Gabe for sharing his story, because — you know, you committed your life to this work, Gabe.  I don’t know whether you had that plan when you began it, but it’s amazing what you’ve done.  It’s amazing what one person can do.  It’s an honor to meet with you both and to learn more about the work you’re doing together to support your community.
 
Folks, we’re also joined today by many who have been part of this effort for decades, including Dr. Fauci, who is — I — he’s all things to — (applause) — Doc, you’re the best.  And you never walk away from an issue or a problem.  Thank you. 
 
And to all of you who have contributed so much to this mission of advocating for better prevention services for those at risk of getting HIV and improved care services; and living with HIV, breaking down the stigma, and from — and the disinformation that still exists around HIV/AIDS, I want to thank you — thank you for your voices and for putting your hearts into your work.  Because that’s what you do, you put your hearts into the work, and people can tell.  
 
It’s because of all of you and the dedication of scientists and activists around the world that we’ve been able to dramatically reduce new HIV transmissions and make individuals with HIV today lead long and healthy lives.  
 
And, you know, it’s because of the persistence and the resilience of the HIV community that we’ve changed so much about the way we approach healthcare, research, and equitable access to services — even the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.
 
You know, and it’s because of you — and it’s not hyperbole to suggest it — that we are within a striking distance of eliminating HIV transmission.  Within striking distance.  (Applause.) 
 
And I think everybody but Nancy couldn’t have imagined this — us being there 40 years ago.  But the fact is that when the CDC reported the first cases that — of what we now know as AIDS.
 
It’s something that we couldn’t fully imagine even 20 years ago before the landmark investments that the United States made through PEPFAR and — President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
 
But you made it possible.  You made it possible.  And I want to take this moment on this historic anniversary to acknowledge the incredible passion and the work that got us here.  Because I know — I know that so many of you — for so many of you, this is personal. 
 
Today, we once more raise a two-story-tall red ribbon on the North Portico of the White House to remember how far we’ve come, the work we have left to finish, and so we never forget the price — the price that’s paid all along the way.
 
And so many of you know and have relations with people who have — whether they’re family members or friends that you’ve watched them, in the past, whither way. 
 
In the past four decades, as has been mentioned, an estimated 36 million people — 36 million people, including more than 700,000 here in the United States, have died of AIDS-related illnesses. 
 
Think about that.  That many people — more than almost all the modern wars combined — all the wars combined. 
 
Here at home, we saw entire communities devastated by this disease, particularly among the LGBTQ+ individuals and members of racial and ethnic minority groups that Gabe has already spoken to.  And a generation that endured the brunt — the brunt of this epidemic: losing friends, loved ones, family members, partners — instead of being seen and being recognized.