Times Square Gossip

  ****   THE WAR AGAINST PEOPLE WITH HIV-AIDS Story By: James Edstrom **** Charlie Sheen And James Edstrom First of all, Charlie Sheen is a very nice guy. I met him a couple of times, he is sweet, caring and funny. I applaud him for telling the world about his status, he should have done it sooner though and not been blackmailed by these ruthless people. Being diagnosed with HIV is very hard. You are in shock, you think your going to die and you start making plans to die. But even worse is the abuse you receive from the city of New York trying to find a way to stay in a home and to pay for your medicine to stay alive. When I was told I had full blown AIDS in 2001, days after September 11th, my whole life changed. I was so sick, I could not pay my rent, I could not afford my medicine and having HIV was still not accepted. My doctors sent me to the City's HRA HASA HIV unit which in turn gave me even more horror. They made promises they never kept...

**** Governor Cuomo And Mayor De Blasio Announce Affordable Housing Protection For Low-Income New Yorkers Living With HIV/AIDS Story By: James Edstrom **** Governor Andrew M. Cuomo We applaud Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio's decision to help New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS. It will save money and will save lives. I remember a few years back I had a friend that lived in supportive housing where his rent was capped at 30 percent. He wanted to move on and won a lottery for a affordable housing apartment in Manhattan. The building was beautiful, affordable housing was mixed in with the rich apartment renters. The only problem was my friend had limited disability checks coming in every month, his rent went from around two hundred a month to about five hundred a month, leaving him with nothing to buy food with. He lasted only two months and finally he had to decide, pay the rent and don't eat or become homeless and have food. He chose being hom...

Rock star Bono's Valentine's Day charity auction to help fight HIV-AIDS in Africa, raised a record breaking $42.6 million, which was far more than organizers were expecting to make. The U2 singer teamed up with famed artist Damien Hirst to spearhead The Red Auction event at the Gagosian Gallery in New York City, which sold off contemporary art to the highest bidders. Auctioneers at Sotheby's have hailed the $42.6 million haul as one of the biggest single charity events in history. All proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to the United Nations' HIV relief initiative in Africa.

George Michael is scared of what he will find out ! George Michael is too scared to take an HIV test.The 'Fast Love' singer hasn't been tested for the virus for at least three years because he fears the results could come back positive.The revelations feature in a BBC2 TV documentary 'Stephen Fry - HIV and Me' by Michael's friend, comedian and actor Stephen Fry.The program's producer, Ross Wilson, said: "George says he does not believe in tests."He says he finds the wait for results too harrowing and that he hasn't had a test since at least 2004 due to his fears it might be positive."The former Wham! star was arrested for "engaging in a lewd act" with an undercover police officer in a Beverley Hills public toilet in April 1998,and admits to enjoying "sexual freedom" despite being in a long-term relationship with boyfriend Kenny Goss. Michael celebrated his 44th birthday on Monday and received a unique present from Geri...

Osbourne Cousin Terry Longden TV presenter and singer Kelly Osbourne's cousin Terry Longden is the mystery family member who is HIV-positive. The 43-year-old, who starred in British reality show "The Salon", was standing in the wings when Ozzy Osbourne's daughter went on stage at a charity benefit last week and told the audience she had a relative with the condition. He says, "I told her to say whatever she wanted because it might help someone in a similar situation, but I didn't expect her to cry. I felt quite guilty. She gave me a big hug when she came off." Longden discovered he was ill after taking a test six years ago, and admits he was terrified of telling his family, which included Kelly, and her parents, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne. He says, "I was very worried about telling the Osbournes, especially Ozzy. I was on tour with him in the '80s when everyone was talking about AIDS and Ozzy saw a lot of friends die. Sharon and I are very close...

Kelly Osbourne Kelly Osbourne has revealed a member of her family has HIV.The TV presenter, daughter of Sharon Osbourne and rocker Ozzy Osbourne, made the revelation at an AIDS charity benefit at London's Koko club . She said: "This charity is really important to me because one of my family is HIV positive. And I am so, so proud of him."An onlooker said: "Kelly seemed really upset and could hardly speak through her tears. It was really emotional to hear her reveal something so personal."Kelly attended the Sunday night event with her cousin Terry, 40, star of TV show 'The Salon'. Kelly and mom Sharon have been involved with a number of HIV charities, however, this is the first time a personal link has been revealed.The Osbourne family have gone through a series of serious health scares. Sharon over came colon cancer in 2002, her eldest daughter Aimee had breast cancer surgery in 2003, while Ozzy was involved in a near-fatal quad bike accident in Decemb...