Tom Sheeran, who is openly gay and HIV positive, will be honored tomorrow by the state Health Department's STD/AIDS Prevention Branch for 20 years of work to support and improve services to Hawaii's HIV/AIDS community.

At a World AIDS Day service from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Clement's Church, 1515 Wilder Ave., Sheeran will receive the fifth annual Suzanne Richmond-Crum Award “;for outstanding contribution in providing HIV/AIDS services in Hawaii.”;

Richmond-Crum was former director of the Hawaii Seropositivity and Medical Management Program, the HIV/AIDS medical care program in the STD/AIDS Prevention Branch. She died in August 2004 after 10 years as HSPAMM director.

Peter Whiticar, branch chief, said Sheeran “;has consistently been committed to supporting all aspects of the HIV/AIDS community in Hawaii, from being an advocate for persons with HIV/AIDS to assisting local organizations and agencies with their advocacy efforts.”;

Nancy Kern, HIV/STD prevention coordinator, said, “;This is an excellent opportunity to recognize Tom's commitment and to really show from the community how much we appreciate what he has done over the years.”;

Sheeran, in an interview, said he's honored to be recognized for what he's done in the past. “;But what I'd really like is for people to look ahead at the kind of work that needs to be done.”;

“;We need a cure. People need to have access to care and treatment and while Hawaii is better than most places, even we aren't doing enough.”;

Sheeran said he's hopeful a new administration in Washington will provide leadership to implement a national AIDS strategy, “;which we've never had, and begin to do what we should have done 25 years ago. We don't need platitudes,”; he added. “;We need work and we need leadership.”;

Sheeran began attending People With AIDS Coalition meetings in 1989 and became a board member in 1995. He became president in 1997 and organized the first and only statewide People With AIDS conference.

He was a community member of the Governor's Committee on HIV/AIDS from 1996 to 2005 and in 1996 became the first openly HIV-positive member of the board of directors of Gregory House Programs, which provides statewide housing services for people with HIV/AIDS.

He was a community member of Hawaii CARES, the statewide HIV/AIDS care planning group from 2000 to 2004 and was co-chairman for two years.

He has been World AIDS Day co-chairman for Oahu since 2003.

He also has lobbied for funding and bills at the Legislature as an advocate for people with HIV/AIDS and has helped to organize HIV-related public service campaigns.