AIDS

AIDS Activists Heckle Surgeon General And Say Obama Has Done Little For HIV Awareness

Christina Bellantoni | April 28, 2010, 9:11AM

Surgeon General Regina Benjamin

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin got an earful from AIDS activists at the Tribeca Film Fesitval premiere of a documentary about the HIV epidemic in Washington, D.C. At a panel following a screening of "The Other City" Monday, Benjamin was heckled as some in the audience said President Obama has done nothing to help the HIV problem.

Benjamin, sitting alongisde the flimmakers and people who appeared in the documentary, said Obama had done plenty. She noted his decision to lift the ban on HIV-positive foreign travel and how a major conference will be hosted in Washington in 2012. Obama chose Benjamin for the position in part because her own brother died from AIDS.

But as Benjamin spoke, Larry Kramer said everything Obama has done is "useless!"

"Where's your anger?" Kramer shouted at Benjamin from the audience. He also appeared briefly in the documentary, and is known for loud protests.

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