Jay-Z Designs Athur Ashe Charity T-Shirt

According to a posting on POZ.com:

As part of his Rocawear clothing line, rap superstar Jay-Z has designed a T-shirt featuring late HIV-positive tennis great Arthur Ashe, to be sold for charity at the U.S. Open, The Associated Press (AP) reports.

The shirt commemorates the 40th anniversary of the USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network, which Ashe founded in 1969. Proceeds from sales of the shirt will benefit the NJTL as well as the Arthur Ashe Endowment for the Defeat of AIDS.

Ashe’s widow, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, told the AP she is “thrilled that someone of Jay-Z’s stature would take part in this project.”

Ashe will be inducted in the U.S. Open Court of Champions on September 10. The U.S. Open takes place in New York City until September 13.

I realize this isn’t about a gay man, yet it is about a disease that affects the lives of so many, I felt it should be mentioned.  HIV/Aids is not an issue only the gay community suffers from, but so many others.  This is one of the most serious issues of our times.  Whatever we’ve been doing is obviously not enough.  I urge all of you not only to become educated about HIV/Aids, but do your part to help educate others, gay or straight, so that they in turn, can do the same thing.  Dialogue is key.  Start a conversation.

To learn more about HIV/Aids, visit TheBody.com and POZ.com

(RED) Digital Music: Fighting AIDS in Africa

A new digital music service called (RED) Wire, co-founded by Bono, promises to deliver exclusive tracks from U2, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Dixie Chicks, Jay-Z, John Legend and Sheryl Crow for only $ 5 per month! Launching today, December 1, the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, the service donates a portion of its profits to fight AIDS in Africa.

(RED) Wire is an extension of the (RED) organization, which Bobby Shriver and U2 front man Bono co-founded to combat AIDS in Africa. Subscribers to the service will also receive tracks from underground artists along with jokes and poems recited by actors.

According to the brain behind the project and Hear Music founder Don MacKinnon;

“The goal was something that wasn’t just a one-off CD, but an ongoing service that would generate an ongoing flow of money.”

Subscribers will also receive updates on how their donations are being used. Half the fee will go to the Global Fund, through which (RED) provides AIDS medicines for women and children.

Visit the site at REDWIRE.com!