Tomorrow is World AIDS Day. Since 1988, December 1st has been observed around the globe as a day to draw attention to the continuing battle against HIV and AIDS, as well as to those who've lost that battle.
According to Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services, about 200 people contract HIVin Central Texas each year. There are a handful of events around Austin Thursday, giving people a chance to learn about the struggles of living with HIV and also to honor those who have died of AIDS.
One all-day event, World AIDS Day: Austin Remembers, Austin Responds, will take place at the For the City Center at 500 E. St Johns Ave. from 8:30 am until about 9:00 pm.
“The majority of the day is presentations, starting with a proclamation by the mayor,” says Lara O’Toole, one of the chief organizers of the event.
“Representatives from several local AIDS service organizations will be sitting on a panel and talking about the trends they see and the services they provide.”
At 3:30 pm, there will be a showing of the critically acclaimed film, Life, Above All.
On the UT Campus, the fifth-annual World AIDS Day Conference will focus on the global politics and economics of HIV and AIDS. The event will take place in the Student Activities Center building, just north of Gregory Gym on the East Mall, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in room 1.106. The keynote speaker is Dr. Kane Race, a senior lecturer in the Department of Gender and Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney.
Along with the presentations, there will be free and confidential HIV testing throughout the day in the SAC building ballroom.