Angelinos Honor World AIDS Day
Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness for the still-present AIDS and HIV pandemic. In the last fourteen years, U.S. Presidents have made it an annual tradition to give an official proclamation on World AIDS Day, with other governments since then following suit.
Los Angeles is among 10 cities celebrating the day in civic-style. San Fransisco will light its Coit Tower and City Hall while LA's Central Library and the pylons at the airport will turn crimson.
Loyola Marymount University is also marking the date with a one-night-only performance of "Stages of AIDS," directed by professor Jim Holmes. The performance begins at 8 p.m. in St. Robert's Auditorium. For ticket information, click here.
CalDeaf is putting the Deaf National AIDS Quilt will be on display and featuring deaf speakers, workshops, and counseling. The City of West Hollywood is also hosting an annual World AIDS Day Commemoration and NextAid is putting on an event for Angelinos complete with dance, music, and comedy.
Susan Smith Ellis, the CEO of (RED), also made a guest blogger appearance for Huffington Post today. She explains the transactional conveyance where people buy a (RED)-branded product like an Apple iPod, a Nike shoelace or a Gap tee-shirt, and a percentage of the profit from each sale goes to the Global Fund. The Global Fund then distributes antiretroviral medication to people in countries around the world.
Some of the Internet's most trafficked sites are also marking the occasion. Facebook and Twitter have gone RED and YouTube is showcasing a live global webcast by U.S. musician Alicia Keys from the Nokia Theater in NYC.
Visit World AIDS Day for more information on global observances, facts, statistics, stories, and ways to join the fight against AIDS.
This image was taken from Flickr user Jayel Aheram using the Creative Commons License.