Tuesday marked two important occasions for our community, and their confluence was significant.
The first of December always serves to commemorate World AIDS Day, an opportunity for people around the globe to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This year, the day coincided with Giving Tuesday, a pseudo-holiday conceived of a few years ago — in response to the over-commercialization of the holiday season — to encourage philanthropy.
Throughout the day, supporters of both efforts were out, literally and figuratively, in full force. Institutions across the city opened their doors for people to learn about the history of the epidemic through panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. From City Hall to college campuses and everywhere in between, events were held to pay tribute to people who have been lost to the disease, and to the progress that has been made to eradicate it. Supporters of HIV/AIDS and LGBT organizations took to the streets and to social media to encourage backers to use Giving Tuesday to give back to the groups that have given our community so much.
One of the most inspiring elements of the day was the prevalence of ally support in this work. For an epidemic that at one time was once considered a “gay men’s” disease, it was heartening to see the diversity of supporters handing out PGN and ActionAIDS’ World AIDS Day Supplements, and to the melting pot of people taking them. The Red Ribbon Awards ceremony at City Hall was not only packed with people across the LGBT spectrum, but from all walks of life. Local news stations also did their part to shed light on World AIDS Day activities, and on some of the local groups deserving of support on Giving Tuesday.
All in all, Tuesday was a day that demonstrated the power of community — and of welcoming supporters from outside of our community into our work.