November 29, 2017
GMHC Presents Full Schedule for World AIDS Day
READ TIME: 5 MIN.
Gay Men's Health Crisis has released their schedule of events leading up to World AIDS Day, December 1. Among the evens are a discussion about long-term survivors, an art exhibition by pozzers, a special WAD concert, and a candlelight vigil. We spoke to GMHC CEO Louie Kelsey about the events.
On�Wednesday, November 29, from 5-7 p.m., GMHC is hosting a community discussion about long-term survivors at its Midtown West headquarters. As more HIV-positive people are able to grow older because of advances in HIV treatment, GMHC is working to understand this population and how we can help them live happier, healthier lives. Join us for a panel discussion with Vanessa Campus, Community Health Educator, GMHC; Stephen Karpiak, Senior Director for Research, ACRIA; activist Sean McKenna; and GMHC VP of Public Affairs and Policy Eric Sawyer in a discussion moderated by Greg Bruckno, Long-Term Survivor Specialist at GMHC. Light dinner and refreshments will be served. RSVP:�[email protected]. GMHC Headquarters, 446 W. 33rd St.
"There are actually many issues that long-term survivors face,�including survivor guilt; serious side effects from long-term HIV infection and the toxicity of early powerful drugs; and loneliness, despair, and the isolation that comes from seeing many people in your peer group die before you," said Kelsey. "Additionally, too many long-term survivors get caught in a financial trap, having been forced to go on long-term disability or public assistance benefits when they were too ill to work; as a result, many now find themselves with large gaps in work experience, lacking current job skills, and without savings as they near retirement age. And, of course, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV persists, even within our own communities. At GMHC, we're continuing to expand our programs for long-term survivors to help them navigate all of these complexities."
On�Thursday, November 30, from 6-8 p.m., join GMHC and the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art for the opening reception of "Art & AIDS: 35 Years of Survival," an art exhibition commemorating GMHC's 35th anniversary and the long-term survivor community. The exhibition features dozens of works created by GMHC clients. The opening reception is free and open to the public; no RSVP required. Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, 26 Wooster St.
Kelsey said that this is GMHC's sixth Art & AIDS exhibition, and each one has displayed the outcomes of work from weekly art classes run by GMHC's Work and Wellness Center. Art teachers donate their time to teach classes for GMHC's clients (consisting of professional and non-professional artists), and assist in curating the annual exhibition.
"The work sold during the exhibition allows the artists to increase their financial independence, which is particularly important for those on a limited income," he explained. "Plus, the artists are then able to participate in additional art shows since most galleries mandate that artists must already have been part of one show."
On�Friday, December 1 (World AIDS Day), from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., GMHC is co-sponsoring the 4th annual World AIDS Day event hosted by the End AIDS NY 2020 Coalition at Brooklyn's Kings Theatre. Past speakers have included major elected officials, AIDS activists, and community members. More information, and to RSVP, click here.
Also on�Friday, December 1,�starting at 6 p.m., join GMHC and other organizations as we co-host the 26th Out of the Darkness World AIDS Day candlelight vigil at the New York City AIDS Memorial in Greenwich Village. Guest speakers, including GMHC CEO Kelsey Louie, will address the crowd before marching through the streets of the Village to St. John's Lutheran Church, where there will be further remarks. Free and open to the public. New York City AIDS Memorial, Greenwich Avenue and W. 12th St.; St. John's Lutheran Church, 81 Christopher St.
"Candlelight vigils, rallies, gatherings, and other ways that people can come together -- especially on World AIDS Day -- remain important because AIDS is not over," said Kelsey. "When we gather, we support each other to keep going, keep doing the work in all the ways we can, and keep persisting and resisting with a collective goal to end AIDS at epidemic levels by 2020."
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On�Thursday, December 7, from 6-8 p.m., join GMHC at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art for a panel discussion about the influence of art in the AIDS epidemic during the last 35 years. More information, and to RSVP:�https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-aids-the-influence-of-art-in-the-aids-e.... Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, 26 Wooster St.
In 2014, GMHC's CEO Kelsey Louie was a member of Governor Andrew Cuomo's Ending the Epidemic Task Force, which was charged with advising the New York State Department of Health on strategies to achieve goals outlined in the Governor's plan. The plan's stated goals are:
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"As we saw with today's release of the 2016 HIV infection numbers in New York City, PrEP works: new HIV infections were down among men who have sex with men (MSM) -- a 15 percent decrease from 2015 -- and the city believes that's partly thanks to PrEP being more widely prescribed to MSM," said Kelsey.
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But to continue with that kind of progress, and to end AIDS by 2020, GMHC must have the financial resources that sustain as well as expand programs and services that focus on the stated goals, such as HIV testing, prevention programs, and care services for all populations. HIV infections among women in New York City, for example, rose in 2016.
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"We�persist in our collective work by strengthening and expanding our partnerships -- with other AIDS service organizations, community-based organizations, elected officials, government departments, and additional community partners," said Kelsey. "And in order to decrease new HIV infections and barriers that block people from seeking health care, we must work with our community partners to address stigma, homophobia, transphobia, racism, violence -- and much more -- in our communities. These are the structural drivers that fuel the epidemic."
