World AIDS Day: Local Events Highlight Remembrance and Awareness

December 1st marks World AIDS Day, a time when communities around the globe come together to honor those lost to HIV and AIDS and to stand united against stigma.

Since 1988, World AIDS Day has served as a reminder of the ongoing impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Today, an estimated 38 million people worldwide are living with HIV, and more than 35 million have died from HIV- or AIDS-related illnesses over the past four decades—making it one of the most devastating pandemics in modern history.

While medical advances now allow many people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives, experts emphasize that HIV remains widely stigmatized and misunderstood.

Here in the Valley, several events are taking place in recognition of World AIDS Day:

• Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Groundbreaking:
  At 11 a.m. today at Downtown Park in Palm Springs, city officials will gather to break ground on the new Palm Springs AIDS Memorial. This free public event will feature remarks from city leaders, a look at the memorial model, and an opportunity to meet the project’s artist, Phillip K. Smith.

• DAP Health Candlelight Vigil:
  This evening, DAP Health will host a candlelight vigil to honor those lost to HIV and AIDS. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the DAP Health office on North Sunrise Way. Attendees can expect moving speeches and a special display of panels from the historic AIDS Memorial Quilt.

World AIDS Day continues to shine a light on the experiences of people living with HIV today and reinforces the ongoing need to challenge stigma and support affected communities.

We'll be attending the Palm Springs AIDS Memorial groundbreaking later today and will bring you more coverage on World AIDS Day events across the Valley. Tune in at 11 a.m., 5 and 6 for updates.