Bay Area churches acknowledged lives lost in the HIV/AIDS pandemic and elected officials issued statements to mark World AIDS Day this past weekend.
Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco included acknowledgements of the HIV/AIDS pandemic’s impact during its Sunday services, while the GLBT Historical Society debuted a photo exhibition and California state Sen. Scott Wiener and President Joe Biden released statements.
“Today is World AIDS Day, when we remember those we’ve lost, double down on our support for those living with the virus or at risk for it, and strengthen our resolve to end new HIV infections once and for all, here and around the world,” Wiener said.
The senator said that broad access to HIV testing and treatment and PrEP medications could mean “the end of HIV infections.”
PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout the body. It reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed, according to the HIV.gov website.
“When people know they have HIV and take the effective medications that exist, they can lead healthy lives and are all but non-infectious. When people take PrEP each day, as I do, their risk of contracting HIV is essentially zero. These strategies combined, if implemented broadly, will mean the end of HIV infections,” Wiener said.
President Joe Biden also marked the occasion, issuing a formal proclamation and posting a statement on social media.
“On World AIDS Day, we raise a red ribbon to remember how far we’ve come, the work that’s left, and those devastated by this disease, particularly the LGBTQI+ folks and people of color who endured the brunt of this epidemic instead of being seen. Let’s finish this fight,” the president said.
Portrait exhibit debuts
Also on Sunday, the GLBT Historical Society debuted a new photography exhibition called “Focus on Living: Portraits of Americans with HIV and AIDS,” in time for World AIDS Day.
Created by San-Francisco-based photographer Roslyn Banish, the exhibit features 16 portraits that document the experiences of individuals living with HIV and AIDS, showcasing their resilience and humanity.
Running through March 2025, the exhibit draws from Banish’s larger project, “Focus on Living,” which includes 40 portraits paired with first-person testimonies from people across diverse backgrounds.
“Roslyn Banish’s unadorned portraits provide a window into the day-to-day struggles and triumphs of people living with HIV,” said GLBT Historical Society Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana. “This exhibition reminds us of the enduring impact of the epidemic and the importance of preserving and sharing these personal stories as part of LGBTQ history.”
The photos and stories highlight the universal impact of HIV/AIDS and the personal challenges and triumphs of those affected.
“My goal has been to humanize HIV/AIDS, to get beyond the stereotypes and statistics,” said Banish. “In the end, I hope we are all more knowledgeable about the disease. I especially hope we are more compassionate and understanding of those brave souls who, despite enormous challenges, have managed to stay focused on the business of living.”
The GLBT Historical Society Museum is located at 4127 18th Street in San Francisco’s Castro District. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity to honor the more than 32 million people who have died worldwide from AIDS-related illness, to show support for people living with AIDS and stand together in the fight against HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
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