Chicago Tribune (CT) - MONDAY, December 2, 1996 Edition: NORTH SPORTS FINAL Section: NEWS Page: 4 Word Count: 810
Tara Gruzen, Tribune Staff Writer. Tribune news services contributed to this report.

Millions turn out for World AIDS Day. In Chicago and around the globe Sunday, people marked the ninth annual World Health Organization's day for AIDS awareness in their own way.

TEXT:

Four years ago, Chicagoan Chris DeChant decided to tell the country he was HIV positive.

On Sunday, he joined millions of people around the world fighting to get others to protect themselves against the deadly virus that causes AIDS.

DeChant, the producer of a weekly radio show on sexual health and AIDS, often has the feeling that the number of people who remain dedicated to fighting the disease is waning. But as he listened to scores of reports on international World AIDS Day observances during the weekend, he realized the global extent of support for the cause.

Around the world, people marked the ninth annual World Health Organization observance Sunday. The event was launched as a way to focus attention on the disease and promote worldwide prevention programs.

In Beijing, activists posted pictures of an emaciated AIDS victim in a central Beijing Park. In Thailand, 420 gas stations distributed 3 million condoms with the warning, "Be careful of AIDS when feeling naughty." And in South Africa, retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu appeared in a television advertisement urging people to practice safe sex.

The Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia was adorned with two 60-foot red ribbons, the symbol of AIDS awareness.

Many government buildings throughout the United States dimmed their lights--including the White House and state buildings throughout Illinois.

According to a report recently released by the United Nations, nearly a quarter of the 6.4 million AIDS deaths to date occurred in the last year. The total number of people suffering with AIDS or infected with HIV is 22.6 million.

In Illinois, there have been 18,315 reported cases of AIDS since 1981. A total of 11,919 people in the state have died of the disease in that time.

"For me, it is personally good to see that there are groups out there that haven't given up," said DeChant, producer of the HIV Talk Radio Project.

"But I must admit that there are some years when it was more dramatic. I think people are starting to realize that there may not be a cure, and that is creating a sense of apathy."

DeChant's World AIDS Day radio programs--"AIDS and African-Americans: Reasons for Hope" and "New Hopes, New Struggles: The Hispanic Community United Against AIDS"--were two out of many of AIDS-related events in the Chicago area.

The Chicago Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health each awarded $25,000 grants to leaders in the field of AIDS treatment and prevention.

This year's recipients of the city award were Project VIDA and the Children's Place Association.

Dr. David Lucks, an infectious-disease specialist from Aurora, the HIV team at Children's Memorial Hospital and WHBF-TV in Rock Island were honored with the state awards.

Local museums sponsored "A Day Without Art" by covering some of their exhibits with black cloth as a symbol of mourning for artists who have died from the disease.

At an installation at the Chicago Cultural Center, most of the day was dedicated to silent prayer. The solemnity was broken for 15 minutes each hour for a short performance of dance or song. At the side of the exhibit stood a book of remembrance for people to record their thoughts on AIDS victims they had lost.

Several churches throughout the Chicago area held multidenominational memorial services, and in the Lake View neighborhood 48 businesses donated 10 percent of their afternoon profits to Chicago House, a local advocacy group for people with AIDS or HIV.

"We are not hearing as much about the disease because it has become more mainstream," said Joe Murray, chairman of the ecumenical prayer service held at Immaculate Conception Church in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.

"But each year we pray for a cure, and it looks today like we are getting closer."

CAPTION: PHOTO: Liz Larue, who has lost three family members to AIDS, inspects the red brick ribbon walkway of the Garden of Serenity and Hope in York, Pa. Weather delayed Sunday's dedication of the garden. PHOTO: Meanwhile on World AIDS Day, a child in New Delhi visits a memorial to victims. AP photos. PHOTO (color): At Albuquerque Museum, paintings are covered for "A Day Without Art." Many museums participated, remembering artists who have died of AIDS. AP photo. PHOTO (color): David Allen, who is HIV positive, participates in a healing with oils ceremony with Deacon Don Lindenbrook at Holy Covenant Church in west suburban Hinsdale on Sunday. Because of new drugs, Allen says he is doing better than he was two years ago. According to the United Nations, a total of 22.6 million people are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Tribune photo by Nancy Stone.

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