Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2013-02-27

Duration: 00:58:00

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | AIDS (Disease) | HIV infections | Health | Health Care | Sex Education

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Goidel, Kirby Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Perry, Kristie Interviewee
• Cullins, Leah Interviewee
• Foster, Millicent Interviewee
• Legard, Ashante Interviewee
• Tasman, Rob Interviewee
• Whitty, Cassandra Speaker
• Lemon, Tiffany La'Shay Speaker
• Bertalotto, Josh Speaker
• Miller, Irma Speaker
• Galloway, Charlotte Speaker
• Ross, Katya Speaker
• Cooley, Natalie Speaker
• Blueford, Ronnie Speaker
• Foster, Millicent Speaker
• Lott, Leshondra Speaker
• Myers, Wallace Speaker
• Smith, Fred J. Panelist
• Dery, Mark Alain Panelist
• Keller, Joyce Turner Panelist
• Johnson, A.J. Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from February 27, 2013, features Kirby Goidel leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the high rates of HIV/AIDS in Louisiana, especially in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Kristie Perry of the Southern University HIV/AIDS Awareness Program; Leah Cullins of the Governor’s Commission on HIV/AIDS; Millicent Foster, a person living with HIV; Ashante Legard of Family Services of Greater Baton Rouge; and Rob Tasman of the Louisiana Conference of Bishops. The audience members then discuss why the HIV and AIDs rates are so high in Baton Rouge. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Reverend Fred Smith of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Baton Rouge; Dr. Mark Alain Dery of the Tulane University School of Medicine; Dr. Joyce Turner Keller, founder of Aspirations; and Reverend A.J. Johnson, the founder of the Baton Rouge AIDS Society They discuss: what Louisiana can do to combat the high rates of HIV/AIDS; the problems with the abstinence-only sex education program in Louisiana; the role of churches in educating their congregations; the reasons for the higher rates of HIV/AIDS cases in the African American community; the need for a needle exchange program in the state; the problems with access to testing; the treatment options; and the importance of educating all age groups about HIV/AIDS. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Kirby Goidel