WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Tuesday, December 1, the city of West Hollywood is set to host a series of events in recognition of World AIDS Day, a day that gives an opportunity for people worldwide to join forces in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
According to the World AIDS Day website, World AIDS day is the first ever global health day, which was held for the first time in 1988. It is a day created to show support for people living with HIV and to commemorate those who have lost their lives battling HIV/AIDS.
West Hollywood’s World AIDS Day will start at 6 p.m. with the World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil located at the northwest corner of Crescent Heights and Santa Monica Boulevards. Co-presented by the Alliance for Housing and Healing, AIDS/LifeCycle, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Being Alive, West Hollywood Cheerleaders, The Thrive Tribe, and The Life Group LA, the Candlelight Vigil will continue to West Hollywood Park on 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard at 7 p.m.
The city of West Hollywood has announced that from Monday, November 30, to Friday, December 4, the West Hollywood City Hall, located at 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard, will feature a displayed panel of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. The Quilt, known as a memorial to celebrate the lives of people who have passed away of AIDS-related causes, was conceived in 1985 by American AIDS and LGBT activist Cleve Jones.
On Tuesday, December 1 the Paul Starke Warrior Awards event will be held. Awards will be presented to those who have provided service to people living with HIV/AIDS. According to a press release from the city of West Hollywood, “There will be a reading by West Hollywood City Poet Steven Reigns and there will be presentations from the UCLA Center for World Health and the Foundation for AIDS Monument. There will also be film clips from “Young City at War: Stories from West Hollywood During the AIDS Epidemic.” The award ceremony, taking place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will be at the West Hollywood’s City Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room at West Hollywood Library located on 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
The city will broadcast AIDSWatch, a 24-hour electronic art piece and memorial, where a roster consisting of approximately 25,000 names will be individually shown for around 3.5 seconds, the length of time it takes to take one breathe. It will be broadcasted on WeHo TV starting at 12:01 a.m. on December 1.
From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m, the city will host a free public viewing of AIDSWatch at the City of West Hollywood’s City Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room at West Hollywood Library, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. Home viewers have the chance to watch WeHoTV online at www.weho.org/wehotv.
WeHoTV is also available to Time Warner Cable customers within the city of West Hollywood on channel 10 and AT&T U-verse customers throughout Southern California can receive coverage of WeHoTV on channel 99.
The city of West Hollywood is further encouraging residents and community members who have lost family or friends to AIDS to add their loved ones names in AIDSWatch via www.aidswatch.org.
For more information about World AIDS Day events, the city of West Hollywood advise people to contact Corey Roskin at croskin@weho.org or at (323) 848-6403. For those who are deaf or hearing impaired, call TTY (323) 848-6496.
