Elizabeth Taylor: A Humanitarian and AIDS Activist Like No Other

By John Mitchell Posted Mar 23rd 2011 03:00PM

Elizabeth Taylor, who passed away today from congestive heart failure at the age of 79, was a Hollywood legend known as much for her tireless humanitarian work as for her legendary screen roles. When it came to her work with HIV/AIDS-related charities, including the American Foundation for AIDS Research, better known as amfAR, and her own Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation, the actress was an unstoppable force committed to doing all she could to see the public educated about the realities of the disease.

"Celebrity is not something that comes without responsibility," Taylor said. "I kept seeing all these news reports on this new disease and kept asking myself why no one was doing anything. And then I realized that I was just like them. I wasn't doing anything to help."

Taylor took a major personal risk in speaking out on the issue of HIV/AIDS in the mid-1980s, long before then-President Ronald Reagan ever spoke on the issue and years before it became a fashionable cause to support.

"At a time when so many living with HIV/AIDS were invisible, Dame Taylor fearlessly raised her voice to speak out against injustice," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said in a statement Wednesday. "Dame Taylor was an icon not only in Hollywood, but in the LGBT community, where she worked to ensure that everyone was treated with the respect and dignity we all deserve."

After her good friend Rock Hudson died from complications from AIDS, Taylor, alongside Dr. Michael S. Gottlieb, created the National AIDS Research Foundation in Los Angeles, which merged with the New York-based AIDS Medical Foundation in September 1985 to become amfAR, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to evidence-based AIDS-related public policy, securing and raising funds for HIV/AIDS research, expanding access to care and treatment for all AIDS patients and protecting the civil rights of those living with the disease.

At the time of its creation, Taylor was named Founding National Chairman of amfAR. The organization continues to be one of the world's leading organizations dedicated to fighting the AIDS epidemic, and has raised nearly $325 million to fund its multifaceted mission. Taylor herself is said to have raised over $50 million in funds for the cause.

"She was one of the first public voices to speak up about the AIDS crisis while many others stayed silent in the 1980s, and she helped raise millions of dollars to fight the disease," Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement today.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, through her foundation, Taylor commissioned a 37-foot "Care Van" equipped with examination tables and other medical equipment and dispatched it to New Orleans to care for residents of the city suffering from HIV/AIDS. She also donated $40,000 to the New Orleans Aids Task Force.

Taylor testified before Congress to ensure Senate support for the Ryan White CARE Act of 1990, which continues to be a primary source of federal funding for HIV/AIDS programs nationwide, and in 1991, started The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation to complement amfAR's work as well as provide more direct AIDS-related services.

"I have dedicated my efforts ... above all, to the men, women, and children throughout the world who have died of AIDS, or are currently fighting for their lives," Taylor once said. And today, as her fans deal with her passing, there are doubtlessly millions of people living with HIV/AIDS and countless others who have been spared the virus because of the awareness she raised and educational endeavors she supported who are thankful to have had such a fantastic champion in their corner.

►Fans React to Elizabeth Taylor's Death
►Liz Taylor: A Humanitarian and AIDS Activist Like No Other
►Legendary Actress Elizabeth Taylor Dies at 79

Tags: amfAR, Elizabeth Taylor

Comments

(64)

Wednesday 23 March

By jlyn

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Elizabeth Taylor was too cool, her death makes me sad. Her death is representative of an end to a glamourous and historically relevant Hollywood...She was one of the few Golden Age starlets that lived a full & extraordinary life...
Too bad she will not be immortalized as forever young & beautiful like Marilyn Monroe, even though Monroe was a hot mess... whatever, shine on Elizabeth, you still are a super star!

By AmericaToo

Let us not forget all that she did for the children of America.

Few of us know that she reached out to many groups in our country that work to help American children.

Of the many that she helped the one that I can recall now is:

Focus Adolescent Services

In her memory I will make a gift to them.

With her good heart she reached more than just Africa and I feel we should remember that.

Bless Her Heart

By Gerry Turnbull

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What a gift that lady was to this world. Her artistic and humanitarium generosity was boundless. She gave 100% all the time..
She lived, she laughed (and made all her knew her, laugh too) she loved and she cared.
And she's left her mark on this planet. She made a positive difference with her life.
How blessed this planet is to have had her for what now seems such a brief time--yet was in fact, a full life. Lived beautifully.

By AnShanna-Cyrese

Elizabeth taylor was the most beautiful ICON in our decade. She was a beautiful Humanitarian and will surley be missed but her love will go on forever

By denise

So sorry to hear about this. She was a very special person and gave so much of herself to causes she truly believed in. She will be missed dearly. Rest in Peace, Liz!..............P.S. Say "hi" to Michael.....

Thursday 24 March

By Dayna

Sad...a beautiful, talented, giving woman. She will be missed. I read earlier that the last interview she gave was for Harpers Bazaar with, of all people, that pig, Kim Kardashian. She shouldn't have been allowed to breathe the same air, much less be in the same room as the legendary ET.

By Bill and Teresa

SHE WAS A GREAT ACTRESS AND THE FIRST REAPL SPOKESPERSON ON THE AIDS/HIV SUBJECT. HER AFFECTION FOR ROCK HUDSON, COSTAR OF "GIANT", BROUGHT FORTH HER PUBLIC DEMAND FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION OF THIS DISEASE. HER MARRIAGES TO NUMEROUS MEN SHOWED THAT HER FAULTY SIDE IN ACHIEVING HAPPINESS THROUGH LOVE. THE NEWER GENERATION HAVE NO IDEA OF THE ICON THAT HAS PAST. THE IDIOT DJ"s AT THE LOVAL KLAQ FM MADE FUN OF HER AGE AND HER "ANCIENT MOVIES". PIECES OF TRASH LIKE THAT ARE WHAT RUINS SOCIETY. SHE WILL BE MISSED. HAIL RHODESIA, DEATH TO MUGABE AND SHIBAZZ.

By Linda

I grew up with Elizabeth Taylor. She was the most beautiful actress that I have ever seen. Of course, she wasn't perfect in her life, but who among us is perfect. She lived life to the fullest and she was a good person as she could be amidst all of her fame and fortune. She lived quite a life, and contributed much to society in many ways.

I pray she is with our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

I will love you forever, Elizabeth. YOU entertained me many, many hours and the best actress that I have ever seen. You will never be replaced. The stars of today could never hold a candle to your acting.

Linda McCormack
Knoxville, Tenn.

By j9

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I doubt she would appreciate your sentiments... she was Jewish, lol!

By Lizard

She wasn't born to jewish parents, she converted to judaism.

By Sally

Replying to j9,

She would have been gracious enough to accept what Linda or anyone else said, regardless of their religion.

Rest in Peace, Elizabeth.

By maria1963

Yes, she did so much for the AIDS Foundation and for children. Too bad she couldn't seem to find the right man, but then again what woman can. RIP Liz, one of the most beautiful.

By MARAHLIA

She also went down on history as a woman who had no respect for and mocked mariage.

By donna

My deepest condolances to her loving children and grandchildren whom she adored.

She certainly has a place amongst the angels in Heaven.

By Randy Campbell

The first movie I saw Taylor in was "GIANT"...though I did see many
more after that! This one-word title sums up her life..
both professionally and personally..
FEW GIANTS WITH THIS LEVEL OF TALENT, ALSO DID SO MUCH GOOD FOR
THE WORLD, AND REMAINED A STAR UNTIL THE END (and she even married
a construction worker,once!)..
REST IN PEACE , LIZ..THE MOLD WAS BROKEN WHEN "NATIONAL VELVET"
was released.

By James

Rest in peace, Miss Taylor.

By Tom

Who cares?

By mac

People who matter.

By wolfmann4u

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was Liz Jewish ?

By bev

Liz Taylor was born and brought up Protestant to change to the Jewish faith later on but very rarely ever attended a synagogue.

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