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World AIDS Day: A Discussion with POZ Magazine Editor Regan Hofmann

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Regan Hofmann Date: Wednesday, 05 December 2007 Time: 9:00 a.m. EST (1400 GMT) View Webchat Transcript

December 1, 2007 marks World AIDS Day. Join us for an online discussion with Regan Hoffman, Editor-in-Chief of POZ magazine, who will discuss the topic of HIV/AIDS with audiences around the world. Regan will discuss HIV/AIDS stigma, both in the US and internationally. She will also talk about and share photos from her traveling U.S. Speaker program this summer, where she discussed various issues with audiences in Taiwan, Australia, and Vietnam.

Please join this chat live at http://State.Acrobat.com/aids. Please choose the option "Enter as Guest". No registration is required. If you are unable to access the webchat on our new “Adobe Connect” site, you may login at webchat.state.gov depending on your local bandwidth.

Guest Biography: In her current position as editor in chief of POZ magazine, Regan Hofmann is responsible for the editorial direction of this award-winning, monthly publication. Her vision includes raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, highlighting how the profile of the epidemic has changed dramatically to include women and people of color and fighting the stigma that has barely lessened in a quarter of a century since the disease was first identified. Hofmann believes that combating stigma is key because fear of stigma prevents people from talking about HIV/AIDS, which, in turn, hampers education and prevention efforts and compromised the level of care people get for themselves.

Regan began her career working as a research assistant for CBS News (on “60 Minutes”). She then took her talents to account management and copy editing positions at top-tier advertising agencies, including: Young and Rubicam, Saatchi & Saatchi and Cliff Freeman and Partners. Hofmann then founded and published an arts and entertainment magazine, Poets, Artists & Madmen, and worked as a journalist for various publications including Departures and Hamptons. Prior to becoming editor in chief at POZ, Hofmann penned the publication's Anonymous column for four years. In the column, she explored the notion of disclosure, telling a new person for each column. Her decision to publicly disclose her HIV positive status at this time in her life is the result of her belief that awareness of AIDS is at an all-time low and that there is significant need for leadership by positive people in AIDS service organizations.

Regan graduated from Trinity College with a B.A. in creative writing. She also studied in London at the British and European Study Group, and took classes at the School of Visual Arts and the Cooper Union, post graduation. In her free time, she enjoys competing her horse in the sport of 3-Day Eventing, an equestrian triathalon. She has been a competitive rider for more than 30 years. She has also played rugby, and rowed crew.