AIDS+and+Europe

=//AIDS// and Hollywood=

//**Introduction**//
During the early 1990's having AIDS was not tolerated in Hollywood at all. Many people turned their backs on people who had the disease and Hollywood was very rude and unfair towards them. When actor Brad Davis died of AIDS in 1991, he left behind his unfinished book that explains how unfair Hollywood had treated him and other AIDS victims. However, now that has all changed. Many celebrities are helping to raise awareness and money to help AIDS victims all over the world.

**//Hollywood Helping To Raise Awareness//**
The AIDS ribbon and Philadelphia (the movie)
 * Sharon Stone has recently held an auction in Italy and raised $1.35 million. She actioned off her own necklace, portraits by famous artists and a bag worth 60,000 dollars that was signed by numerous celebrities.
 * Philadelphia is a movie with Tom Hanks and it's about a gay lawyer who contracts AIDS. He sues his company because they treat him unfairly just because he's gay. He has a lot of trouble finding a lawyer because he has AIDS and ends up being his own lawyer. During the court session Hanks blacks out, but he does win the court case and the firm is ordered to pay around 4.5 million dollars. Sadly he dies short after.
 * Many TV series have included characters with AIDS in their scripts i.e. //"There was// An Early Frost //(1985),// Go Toward the Light //(1988) and// The Ryan White Story //(1989). And throughout the 80s, a range of soap operas as well as// St. Elsewhere//,// Hill Street Blues//,// Mr. Belvedere//,// A Different World //and// The Golden Girls //kept HIV front and center through several of our favorite characters."//
 * For many years celebrities have worn red ribbons on the red carpet to show that they are supporting AIDS charities
 * In one episode of America's Next Top Model the contestants had to make a 30 second commerical for a charity called Keep A Child Alive

//Elizabeth Taylors Charity//
Dame Elizabeth Taylor has devoted a lot of time and energy to different AIDS charities and fund raisers. She helped to start the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and is the the founding International Chairman. amfAR is a non profit organization that teaches children about the dangers of AIDS, prevention of AIDS and treatment. This charity is funded by donations from individuals, companies, organization, etc. amfAR has spent nearly $250 million on treating AIDS and setting up various clinics in different countries. She contributed to this charity after the death of her friend, Rock Hudson and because she was "...very angry at the lack of response of what was happening...and that really angered me..." . She has also created her own charity called The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). By 1999 she helped to raise at least $50 million for various AIDS charities. In 2006 she donated $40,000 to AIDS charities in New Orleans to help fight the disease after Hurricane Katrina. media type="youtube" key="LVhFazB6YaM&rel=1" height="355" width="425" This is an interview with Dame Elizabeth Taylor who talks about her AIDS charities and why she got involved. 3:40

Information-**
 * Bibliography:
 * [|**http://www.aol.in/hollywood/story/2007102908489026000007/index.html**] [|**http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,290527_2,00.html**]**
 * [|**http://www.poz.com/articles/401_2776.shtml**]**
 * [|**http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12856549/**]**
 * [|**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Taylor#Other_interests**]**
 * [|**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Foundation_for_AIDS_Research**]**
 * Picture**
 * [|**http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Red_Ribbon.svg/401px-Red_Ribbon.svg.png**]**
 * [|**http://www.seeing-stars.com/Images/slides/HollywoodSign2.JPG**]**
 * [|**http://celluloidheroreviews.com/images/philadelphia.jpg**]**
 * Video**
 * [|**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVhFazB6YaM**]**