AIDS has challenged the extended Latino family in every part of the country to find new reservoirs of compassion, to increase our political voices and to confront many difficult issues such as drug use and sexuality, that for generations, have been deemed unmentionable. The spiritual life of our communities have been challenged to its core as religious leaders reach out to advocate with families who have suffered stigma and exclusion.

October 15 is the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States and the first day of what will become an annual observance - National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. It is a day of hope for the future of a world without AIDS.