Gay Lawyer Ben Klein Honored

AIDS Project Worcester is honoring Ben Klein, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders’ Senior Attorney & AIDS Law Project Director with a special Red Ribbon Award for his advocacy & support for those infected & affected by HIV/AIDS. “Ben has been at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS legal advocacy movement since he came to GLAD in 1994,” said Lee Swislow, GLAD’s Executive Director. “We are proud of and grateful for the monumental achievements he has made throughout his career.” Klein was lead counsel in Bragdon v. Abbott, the first HIV discrimination case to be heard by the United States Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in 1998 established nationwide protection against discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act for all people with HIV. AIDS Project Worcester (APW) is a nonprofit organization in Central, Massachusetts dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic & fostering wellness through service, advocacy, prevention, education & collaborative initiatives. The Outstanding Advocate Red Ribbon Award will be presented to Ben during the 25th Anniversary event on Thursday, October 4, 2012. The theme for the evening is “Looking Forward: A Generation Free of AIDS.” APW is honoring ten individuals, including Kevin Cranston, Director of the Massachusetts Bureau of Infectious Disease.