Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bay Area Reporter - June 1, 2001
Cynthia Laird
Starting this Sunday, June 3, and continuing through Tuesday, June 5, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in San Francisco will mark 20 years of fighting AIDS. What follows is a roundup of events taking place; all are open to the public.
'Die-in' demo
As a graphic representation of the nearly 20,000 San Franciscans who have died of AIDS-related complications since the beginning of the epidemic, hundreds of local residents will draw outlines of each other's bodies on sidewalks and streets in the heart of the Castro District and throughout the city this Sunday, June 3, starting at 11 a.m.
The demonstration, called a "die-in" by organizers at the Stop AIDS Project, will take place at 18th and Castro streets; many of the deaths caused as a result of AIDS have occurred among the city's gay and bisexual men who live and gather in that neighborhood. The event is free to the public.
"There's so much going on downtown, we felt it important to do something in the part of the city hit hardest by the epidemic, as well as a renewal to reverse the number of infections going up," Steve Gibson, Stop AIDS Project program director, told the Bay Area Reporter.
Gibson said he intends for the demonstration to draw attention to the increasing rates of HIV infection in San Francisco, especially among African American, Caucasian, and Latino gay and bisexual men. Gibson said he wants the general public to be aware that the disease is spreading and taking lives with it. He also wants members of the LGBT community to recommit themselves to supporting those who are already infected.
"I can remember when Star Pharmacy at 18th and Castro used to have photos in their window of the 'gay cancer' so men could check themselves for sores," Gibson said. "In this year of looking back over the last 20 years of the epidemic, we wanted to do something here in the neighborhood where so many lost their lives."
Jed Herman, volunteer manager at Stop AIDS, said that if there are going to be fewer deaths related to HIV/AIDS in the next 20 years, it is up to the community to make the difference.
"The answer lies in our community," Herman said. "It's up to us to decide the future of the epidemic."
Stop AIDS staff and volunteers will be giving chalk to people who want to join in the die-in, and hope that outlines will be drawn throughout the Castro and San Francisco. Staff members also encouraged allies throughout the Bay Area to buy chalk and join them from wherever they are to bring back AIDS to the nation's consciousness.
For more information, call (415) 575-0150.
AIDS grove ceremony
Also on Sunday, June 3, the National AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park will mark the 20th year of AIDS with a ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. The service of remembrance will include a performance by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus.
Muni will provide some extra service for those in the Castro wishing to attend the service at the grove. A bus will leave near Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco at about 4:30 p.m. to get people to the grove and will bring them back to MCC-SF. People can also take the N-Judah and 33 lines.
Open air service
After the service at the grove, people are welcome to head over to Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco, 150 Eureka Street, for the 7 p.m. service Sunday, June 3. Church staff plan to transform the city block of Eureka Street between 18th and 19th streets into an open air sanctuary for a special evening service honoring health care workers who have cared for people with AIDS in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices, as well as those who serve as home care workers.
"For 20 years, health care workers have reached out to wrap their arms of compassion, comfort, and care around those we love," said the Reverend Penny Nixon, MCC-SF pastor. "It is now our turn to wrap our collective arms around these workers and tell them we care as they have cared. These workers are true heroes in the fight against AIDS and thanking them is, we believe, most appropriate."
The Health Care Workers' Union Local 250 is helping get the word out about the service.
Quilt display
On Monday, June 4, the Names Project will display portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in City Hall, with a formal ceremony at noon in the Rotunda, and the reading of names of those who have died of AIDS. The reading of names will continue until midnight.
June 5 events
Tuesday, June 5 will see the reading of names continue in City Hall beginning at 8 a.m. At noon, Mayor Willie Brown will join many long-term survivors, caregivers, and volunteers in acknowledging the 20th anniversary of AIDS and recommitting to end the epidemic.
MCC-SF will be open on Tuesday starting at 6 a.m. for remembering and honoring people with AIDS. Throughout the day, the altar will become the centerpiece for an historical archive. As the church opens, the altar will be cleared so that cards, statements, momentos, and other personal remembrances may be placed to remember the impact of AIDS.
At 6 p.m. members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society of Northern California will collect and carefully package everything on the altar. The items will then be preserved as an archive to show how San Franciscans chose to mark 20 years of AIDS in their lives.
"Creation of an historical archive documenting this day is extremely important," Nixon said.
She also emphasized the concern for those who continue to live with AIDS. "June 5, 2001 is a day to renew our commitment to all people diagnosed with AIDS who are winning the fight to stay alive."
For more information on MCC-SF's activities, call (415) 863-4434.
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