Elton John speaks at Durban #AIDS2016 conference
Elton John on Wednesday, announced in Durban the first two organisations that would receive funding to fight discrimination and stigma in the LGBT community from the $10 million LGBT Fund that he set up.
John, speaking at the 21st World Aids Conference in Durban said that the inaugural recipients would be the HIV/Aids Alliance and the Global Forum on MSM.
The fund was formed in November 2015 with the aim of addressing stigma, discrimination and violence faced by lesbians, gays, bisexual people and transgender people. The LGBT Fund was launched by the Elton John Aids Foundation and the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR).
The two organisations that were awarded funding are expected to provide key technical expertise in addressing stigma against the LGBT community in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean.
John said that LGBT people needed to be included in the fight to eliminate the disease. He was optimistic it would happen.
Earlier in the day, John met with national Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo and several youths from the LGBT community at Durban’s Prince Mishiyeni Memorial Hospital.
