Health And Politics Mix As AIDS Walk Wisconsin Tops $400K
Milwaukee - The 17th Annual AIDS Walk Wisconsin here raised $402,833 and drew 2,666 registered walkers, according to preliminary estimates provided by the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. Morning showers ended just in time for the kick-off held on the Miller Stage at the Henry B. Maier “Summerfest” grounds September 30.
  Among the speakers at the kick-off ceremony were Law & Order: SVU star BD Wong, Governor Jim Doyle, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Attorney General Candidate Kathleen Falk and Fair Wisconsin campaign manager Mike Tate. A total of nearly 4000 walkers, volunteers, vendors and other spectators were estimated to be at the rally.
  Barrett began the welcoming speeches by noting the weather conditions, then looking at the bigger issue. “It is great to see so many people out here on a day when we got up, looked out the window and said ‘Uh-oh, this could be trouble!’” Barrett said. “This battle has been going on for many years. You’re being here today not only raises money, but it sends a message to the entire state about how important it is that this fight continue.”
  Health and politics began to mix after ARCW’s Mike Gifford introduced Governor Doyle, who combined the Walk’s mission with the upcoming November ballot measure that would ban civil unions and gay marriage. “This Walk today has a very added intensity because we are walking to support people who desperately need help,” Doyle said. “But we’re also walking for Wisconsin’s future. It is essential that Wisconsin does not write discrimination into the Constitution of this state.”
    “We in this state live by some pretty basic values,” Doyle continued. “One of those values is that you should be able to go as far in this state as your hard work and talent will take you. And that we are not going to judge people by who they are, but how they work and the goodness of their deeds. Wisconsin is at its best when we are an open state, when we are a tolerant state... and not a state that shuts its doors, points fingers and tries to scapegoat people - We have to defeat this amendment.”
  Fair Wisconsin’s Mike Tate also urged defeat of the amendment. “In 38 days Wisconsin has a chance to make history. We have the chance to become the first state in the nation to stand up to the right wing...We’re going to tell them that’s not how we do business here in Wisconsin,” Tate said, who then encouraged walkers to take time at his organization’s sponsored rest stop to learn more about how they can help in the ballot battle.
  Attorney General candidate Kathleen Falk echoed Doyle and Tate’s remarks about the amendment fight before
sharing her personal connection with HIV/AIDS. “Wisconsin is going to make history this year being the first state to roll back a very evil, discriminatory amendment,” Falk said. “I met my husband about 17 years ago, at the time of the first AIDS Walk. His brother had just died of AIDS. My husband had nowhere to go. He called a small group then called MAP (Milwaukee AIDS Project) and a guy named Doug Nelson answered the phone... That small group is now what we know and love as the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. Think of the thousands of families like my husband and you - and the others who are still to come - that now... there is hope. We will cure this disease.”
  ARCW Development Director Dan Mueller introduced Honorary Chair BD Wong. “For 25 years we have been living with this terribly disruptive couple, HIV and AIDS,” Wong said. “Someday there will be an eviction notice for HIV and AIDS and we will all be there... Until then we work and walk as good neighbors.”
  “AIDS Walk Wisconsin is one of the most successful AIDS Walks in this entire United States,” Wong noted. “The energy of the people of Wisconsin makes it possible.”
  The 2006 Walk improved over last year’s event by about $20,000. The 2005 Walk, marred by severe thunderstorms that forced many to abandon the 10K route along the city’s Lakefront, brought in $383,025.
  This year’s Walk also offered a 5K route. More than half the participants elected to take the shorter route.