BY DONNA ACETO
With the COVID-19 epidemic
curtailing the
customary public
gatherings on World
ADIS Day in New York City, a small
group gathered at the NYC AIDS Memorial
as late afternoon drifted into
early evening on December 1.
The Memorial, located in St. Vincent’s
Park opposite the site of the
former West Village hospital where
so many AIDS patients were treated
and too many died, is providing audio
programming throughout the month
of December through its “Hear Me:
Voices of the Epidemic.” Music, poetry,
speeches, and other historical
features are mixed with the reading
of names of those lost to the fi rst pandemic
faced by New York’s LGBTQ
community.
Elsewhere across New York State,
numerous landmarks were lit in red
in honor of World AIDS Day, at the direction
of Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Noting that HIV new infection incidence
has declined by 38 percent in
the fi ve years since the state adopted
its End the Epidemic campaign, the
governor said, “Today is World AIDS
Day and we remain focused on ending
the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New
York State.”
Though there were not the usual
mass of candles or live speeches at
the West Village Memorial, those on
hand marked the occasion by clinging
to each other with heads hung in
silence and tears shed. Activist Shep
Wahnon, who has lived with HIV for
decades, did bring a candle to the
Memorial, which he held aloft behind
a rainbow face mask and wearing an
ACT UP button and a GMHC AIDS
Walk cap.
Amid a New Pandemic,
A Muted World AIDS Day
DONNA ACETO
DONNA ACETO
DONNA ACETO
WOR L D A ID S D AY
Activist Shep Wahnon, who has lived with HIV for decades.
World AIDS Day in the age of COVID.
A handful of fl owers placed at the center of the NYC AIDS Memorial on December 1.
FLICKR/ GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO
The spire of One World Trade Center was lit red for
World AIDS Day.
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