(Image by Marco Verch Professional Photographer, from Flickr; originated here – Creative Commons license)
World AIDS Day first took place on Dec. 1, 1988 as an international day to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic. Today, it is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
Organizations and advocates hold annual events around the world recognizing World AIDS Day, and Central Florida and Tampa Bay are no exceptions. Below we have gathered information on some of the events happening during the week of Dec. 1 in our readership area. So if you can, get out, get tested and rock your red ribbon at any one of these events to show your support for the HIV community.
If you have a World AIDS Day event you would like added to the list, please reach out to Watermark’s Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Williams at Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com or Managing Editor Ryan Williams-Jent at Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com.
CENTRAL FLORIDA
World AIDS Day 2021 – Together Again
Nov. 30, 6-8 p.m.
Lake Eola Park, Orlando
Central Florida HIV Planning Council brings it annual World AIDS Day event back to Lake Eola Park’s Amphitheater for its 2021 in-person gathering. The event will start with the Orlando Gay Chorus and will include comments from guest speaker Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, as well as information on the status of HIV in the Central Florida area from planning members Andres Acosta Ardila and Gabriella Rodriguez.
The event will also feature the AIDS quilt folding ceremony, live performers and the presentation of the Planning Council’s awards. For more information, visit Central Florida HIV Planning Council’s Facebook page.
Dec. 1, starting at 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Hope & Help, Orlando
Hope & Help hosts a World AIDS Day event featuring a panel discussion on prevention and treatment for people who use drugs and how using harm deduction can help end the HIV epidemic. The event is free and open to the public. A light breakfast will be provided. For more information, visit HopeAndHelp.org.
Dec. 1, 1-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m.
Unconditional Love & Eau Gallie Square Park, Melbourne
Join Brevard County’s Health Department, Independent Medical Group, Project Response, Spektrum Health and Unconditional Love in Melbourne as they remember the last 40 years of the AIDS epidemic. There will be an art and history exhibit at Unconditional Love from 1-4 p.m. and then a candlelight vigil at Eau Gallie Square Park from 6-8 p.m. For more information, visit ProjectResponse.org.
World AIDS Day Virtual Remembrance
Dec. 1, 6-7 p.m.
Virtual
Join the Central Florida HIV Planning Council, Maven Leadership Collective, QLatinx and other collaborating organizations as they bring the community together virtually to honor World AIDS Day 2021. Find out more about the federal plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, learn more about what funding is coming into Central Florida to combat HIV and watch live as Brevard County streams its ringing of the bells ceremony. Organizers will also take you on a Tour of the Quilts, HIV/AIDS quilts displayed by various organizations throughout Orlando, which will be done virtually and can also be seen by driving through Orlando. To watch, tune into Contigo Fund’s Facebook page Dec. 1, starting at 6 p.m.
Dec. 1, 9 p.m.
Stonewall Bar, Orlando
Stonewall Bar Orlando will be recognizing World AIDS Day by joining with Impulse Group Orlando to offer free testing at the bar starting at 9 p.m. For more information on the organization, visit ImpulseOrlando.org.
TAMPA BAY
Florida Dept. of Health World AIDS Day event
Dec. 1, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
University Area Community Health Center, Tampa
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County will be at Tampa’s University Area Community Health Center to honor World AIDS Day by offering free STI/HIV testing, as well as COVID and flu vaccines, PrEP education and more. This is a free event but FDoH is asking attendees to register if they plan to attend. Visit Hillsborough.FloridaHealth.gov for more information.
Dec. 1, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sarasota High School Alumni Auditorium, Sarasota
Sarasota Art Museum, presented with CAN Community Health, is proud to partner with Visual AIDS for Day With(out) Art 2021 by presenting “Enduring Care,” a video program highlighting strategies of community care within the ongoing HIV epidemic. The program features newly commissioned work by Katherine Cheairs, Cristóbal Guerra, Danny Kilbride, Abdul-Aliy A. Muhammad and Uriah Bussey, Beto Pérez, Steed Taylor and J Triangular and the Women’s Video Support Project. This event will be a free, one-hour program featuring seven commissioned video works. The films can be viewed in the Sarasota High School Alumni Auditorium at the following times: 11 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-2 p.m. and 2-3 p.m.
An evening program will take place that night from 5-8 p.m. and will include musical performances by Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota, film viewings of “Enduring Care,” guest speakers,and the opportunity to experience Felix Gonzalez-Torres’ “Untitled” (L.A.) in the Museum’s Wendy G. Surkis & Peppi Elona Lobby. This event is free for all. For more information, visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
Project Condom 2021 Exhibition
Dec. 3, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
inclusivitea, 2235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
This fun and creative design contest at Metro Inclusive Health’s inclusivitea provides an engaging safe space where healthy relationships, communication and sexual health discussion about condom usage is encouraged. This opening reception and gallery instillation will feature community designed condom couture outfits created from previous Project Condom Runway events, intermixed with local artwork while serving as as a prequel for Metro Inclusive Health’s 2022 fashion show.
World AIDS Day event w/ EPIC
Dec. 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Enoch D. Davis Center, St. Petersburg
Empath Partners in Care will be participating in a World AIDS Day event on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Enoch D. Davis Center in St. Petersburg. The first part of the event will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and will be a part of the Ujima Men’s Collective Conference featuring teachings and Q&A’s.
The second part of the event will be from 1-4 p.m. at the same location, and will include free food, performances, resources, testing and education. The event will feature guest speakers Rev. Dr. Tommie Watkins Jr., Rocky Butler, Leisha McKinley-Beach, Lorenzo Robertson. EPIC will also be providing free, Rapid HIV and Hep C testing. For more information, visit MyEPIC.org.
