March 28, 2024 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

AIDS Memorial Quilt on display in Beverly Hills through Dec. 4

800px-aids_quilt

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS | If you are reading this, you probably know someone affected by HIV and AIDS. If you don’t, then, “Hello, I am Rob and I have AIDS.”

Now that we are all on the same page, there is something truly special now on display in Los Angeles – an installation of a very small part of the acres big AIDS Memorial Quilt.

To commemorate World AIDS Day, The Advocate, with generous support from Beverly Hills real estate agent and philanthropist Michael J. Libow and in conjunction with The NAMES Project Foundation, has brought three installation panels of The Quilt for display at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and The Beverly Hills Public Library from November 28 to December 4.

It’s a historic must see that memorializes those who have died of AIDS.

Friends, lovers and family members quilted and continue to quilt panels to honor their loved ones, whom they fear history might forget. As someone living with AIDS, I think about whether my memory will be preserved as a panel on The Quilt or will I be one of the lucky ones who lives long enough to see a cure.

Although people like me with access to great healthcare are now living full lives, people are still being infected with HIV and people are still dying of AIDS.

“Now is yet another time we need to remember the resilience of our community, and the people who we lost before someone listened to our protests,” said Lucas Grindley, editorial director for Here Media, parent company of The Advocate. “Rates of HIV infection are still far too high. The CDC reports that half of all young, gay black men will be HIV-positive in their lifetime. There’s work to do.”

Libow said supporting The Quilt’s installation is important because he has always been a champion of those less fortunate than he is, and he wants people, especially those not in the gay community, to understand the disease is still devastating lives.

“As a gay man living in the very straight community of Beverly Hills, I think it is important to shine a light on a disease that has taken a back seat in the public conscious,” Libow said. “This is a devastating illness that is still affecting many in Third World countries who don’t have our access to medications.”

Legendary San Francisco gay rights activist Cleve Jones conceived the idea of The Quilt in 1985 while planning the annual candlelight march honoring San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Cleve asked those marching to write the names of friends and loved ones who had died of AIDS on placards. At the end of the march, the placards were taped to the walls of the San Francisco Federal Building. The wall of names looked like a patchwork quilt.

Inspired by this sight, Jones and friends made plans for a larger memorial. A little over a year later, he created the first panel for the AIDS Memorial Quilt in memory of his friend Marvin Feldman.

To date more than 48,000 panels have been made for The Quilt.

If you are interested in donating to preserve The Quilt and help boost The NAMES Project’s programming efforts, you may donate at www.aidsquilt.org.

Related Posts

Cantonese Dim Sum Master Chef Tony Opens Hollywood Dim Sum at TCL Chinese Theatre

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Experience Exquisite Dim Sum Creations in the Heart of Hollywood 97 years after its founding, the TCL Chinese Theatre will...

Fleurs et Sel Bakery Opens Storefront in West Adams, Welcomes Customers Three Days a Week

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Indulge in Freshly Baked Cookies at the New West Adams Location Fleurs et Sel Bakery, known for its delectable cookies...

Easter Specials Guide: Brunch Spots, Desserts, and More in West Los Angeles

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Discover the Best Easter Eats and Treats in LA for Your Holiday Celebration Easter is almost here, so here are...

(Video) Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE at the Beyond Fest Screening...

Judy Garland’s Teenage Bel-Air Estate Hits Market for $11.495 Million

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

“Wizard of Oz” Star’s Former Home Offers Piece of Hollywood History A Bel-Air estate commissioned by Judy Garland during her...

Attorney for Sean “Diddy” Combs Denounces Investigation as “Witch Hunt”

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

Legal Representative Criticizes Probe Amid Federal Sex Trafficking Inquiry An attorney representing Sean “Diddy” Combs criticized the investigation into the...

Historic Union Contract Ratified by Thousands of Hotel Workers At 34 Hotels

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

UNITE HERE Local 11 Negotiates Agreement Ensuring Wage Increases  Hotel workers, who spearheaded the largest hotel strike in modern U.S....

Human Rights Campaign’s Los Angeles Dinner Celebrates LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Unity

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

Notable Figures Gathered to Champion LGBTQ+ Rights and Combat Discrimination By Aneesha Pappy  The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s...

California Bars and Nightclubs Must Offer Drug Testing Devices Starting July 1

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

New Law Mandates License Holders to Provide Drug Testing Kits to Patrons Beginning July 1, establishments with Type 48 licenses...

Opinion: West Los Angeles Needs to Care about Veteran Homelessness

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

By Kelly Kravchuk  Veteran homelessness is a public health concern that impacts my West Los Angeles community. As a USC...

Federal Agents Raid Property Linked to Music Mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs In Holmby Hills

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

Authorities Conduct Searches in Los Angeles as Part of Ongoing Sex Trafficking Probe Federal agents from the Department of Homeland...

Biden Signs Government Funding Bill with Ban on Pride Flags at Embassies

March 24, 2024

March 24, 2024

White House Vows Repeal Amid Controversy Over LGBTQ Provision President Biden signed a huge government funding package on Saturday, which...

City of Los Angeles Pays Nearly Half a Billion in Liability Claims Over Four Years

March 24, 2024

March 24, 2024

LA Controller’s Report Reveals Significant Payouts from General Fund LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia has continued to audit the City...

Infamous Beverly Hills Mansion Where Menéndez Brothers Committed Murders Sells for $17 Million

March 24, 2024

March 24, 2024

Notorious Property Closes Deal Exactly 28 Years After Conviction A mansion in Beverly Hills, California, notorious for being the site...

Former Beverly Hills Therapist Indicted for Alleged Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

March 24, 2024

March 24, 2024

Suspect Faces Federal Charges Following Investigation into Online Activity A former licensed marriage and family therapist based in Beverly Hills...