Out In Town

United in Hope: AIDS World's Day

Friday was the annual commemoration of The International Day of Action on HIV/AIDS or AIDS World’s Day. It’s been twenty-five years since the “first” reported case of HIV/AIDS and it’s been quite an unprecedented ride. It is a very important date, at least in the gay community of Los Angeles. There are candle vigils in different parts of the county. In West Hollywood on the famous/infamous Santa Monica Boulevard you find flowers next to every single tree. Every single tree has a plate engraved with the name of someone who has passed away of an AIDS related disease. Some churches hold special services, especially the gay friendly churches. Non-profit organizations get together to remember those who have left and to raise their voice about this important social problem.

I am part of the affected group by this pandemic and this was my second December 1st Commemoration. The first one was a truly dramatic one. I could not stand the statistics, the numbers, the stories, etc. It just proved to be too much for me. This year however, I felt a lot more confident that I could handle it. I made early arrangements to attend and to be a fully supportive member of the event’s organization. But, there were issues such as final examinations and overloaded workdays that prevented me from helping as much as I wanted.

I felt very grateful to have participated on a program called Tapetes del Alma (Quilt’s from the soul.) These quilts were handmade by people infected or affected by the pandemic. It was great to see people express their own personal views of this very important issue for today’s society. It is even more important to see Latinos express their views and call our very own traditional community to be a little bit more understanding. These quilts were exhibited at the University of Southern California for two weeks before AIDS World’s Day.

During the actual AIDS World’s Day there was a very solemn ceremony, called United in Hope, that took place at Olvera Street in Downtown LA. There was a marching band playing some different tunes inside the church. There were poems read, stories shared, news and numbers given out… but most importantly hope was shared. I think hope came in the sober reality that we are not alone and that we do not have to feel alone while going through this problem. Are we ever going to get the vaccine? Are we ever going to eradicate the infections? Will the stigma ever disappear? I don’t know. But, I know for a fact that if we all stand united in hope, it is easier to see a more bright future than if we stand alone.

posted by Guerrero Azteca @ 6:39 PM