December 1, 2016
On WAD, NYC LGBT Center Reflects on NYC AIDS Memorial
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Every year on December 1, the world joins the LGBT community in somber reflection as we remember the many loved ones we have tragically lost to AIDS. World AIDS Day also serves as a reminder that the fight against HIV and AIDS continues, and that it is crucial to support our brothers and sisters living with the disease. With that top of mind, I thank you for helping to ensure that The Center is open 365 days a year to provide counseling, support groups, free HIV testing and sexual health education for our community. These services literally change and save lives.
Today is particularly poignant as it marks the public dedication of the NYC AIDS Memorial at St. Vincent's Triangle Park. If you're in the area, I hope you'll stop by the dedication at 11 a.m. to hear from our elected officials and connect with others in our community who live with and have been affected by HIV and AIDS. The memorial serves as a permanent commitment to never forget those we have lost, and our promise to support our brothers and sisters who live with the disease until we can say it is no more.
For those who are not in our neighborhood looking for a way to mark World AIDS Day, we hope you'll share this video from The New York State LGBT Health & Human Services Network, which The Center administers. The video is part of a campaign to empower the LGBT community to take control of our sexual health by providing information about pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, a medication that is over 90% effective in reducing the transmission of HIV. I was proud to serve as a member of Governor Cuomo's Ending the Epidemic Task Force, the result of which was a blueprint that designated PrEP access as a statewide priority in ending AIDS by 2020. You can help us get closer to the end of AIDS by sharing this video and the information our community members need to stay healthy.
Thank you for continuing to stand strong in the fight against AIDS. We're proud to be on the same side.
Sincerely,
Glennda Testone
Executive Director
