Whereas , AIDS was first reported in the United States and Michigan in 1981, and the Michigan Department of Community Health estimates that 18,000 Michigan citizens are today living with HIV or AIDS; and,

Whereas , Many health, social service, and educational organizations throughout Michigan are active in planning and implementing community-based prevention, outreach, counseling, testing, and referral programs; and,

Whereas , The National Association of People with AIDS has declared

June 27, 2008, as National HIV Test Day, and adopted the theme "Take the Test, Take Control" to motivate individuals to get tested, learn their results, assess their risk, change behaviors, and if they tested positive for the HIV virus, seek treatment; and,

Whereas , The National Association of People with AIDS has encouraged communities to reach out to populations with high risk of HIV infection, including the African American and Latino communities, both of which are disproportionately affected with HIV when compared to other demographic groups in the United States; and,

Whereas , Events planned throughout the state of Michigan will focus on adolescents and young adults whose HIV diagnoses have increased; and now therefore be it,

Resolved , That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the state of Michigan, do hereby proclaim June 27, 2008, as HIV Test Day in Michigan and I encourage all those who are potentially at risk to get tested for HIV because you can live with the results.