As Palm Springs AIDS memorial is revamped, some gay residents say they’re not being heard

Controversy Surrounding Proposed HIV/AIDS Memorial in Palm Springs

It’s long been said that “art is in the eye of the beholder.” But can that still hold true when that art is also supposed to be a memorial honoring the millions who have died of AIDS worldwide?

That’s the question reverberating around Palm Springs since controversy erupted earlier this fall around the planned design for an HIV/AIDS memorial that a local group had been working to get installed in the city’s Downtown Park.

In addition to reverberating through Palm Springs’ famously large LGBTQ community, that controversy has put new attention on the city’s process for selecting public art pieces, with some saying there needs to be more robust debate.

But it’s also raised broader, more philosophical questions that interrogate the very idea of memorials, with some asking who can — and should — get to say what is a memorial and how varying viewpoints about what constitutes one should be handled.

Critics of design call for more community dialogue

The initial proposed design, which consisted of a large stone disc with concentric circles carved onto one side and fin-like forms carved into the other, generated little backlash when it was first unveiled in 2021.

The design was considered by the Public Springs Public Arts Commission, which voted to fund the installation of the sculpture at a public meeting in June of that year. The city council also considered it three months later when it voted unanimously to accept the statue as a gift and approve its placement in the Downtown Park.

But that changed in a big way this fall, when a model of the planned sculpture was placed on Arenas Road as part of a fundraiser. Dismay and derision ensued, with many observers complaining that the sculpture seemed to resemble a giant donut or, even more strikingly, a human buttocks.

The resemblance of the fin side to the latter has proved particularly concerning to many given what some gay men in the area described as a longstanding tendency in culture to dehumanize and exoticize gay men.

A KESQ report about the controversy added further fuel to the erupting fire, with the task force behind the memorial announcing just days after that report aired that it was scrapping the initial design and would work with the artist to create a new design, then unveil it to the public.

But that announcement, too, has not been warmly received by many members of the city’s LGBTQ community, who say the task force is still not doing enough to gather input from them and the rest of the community.

By choosing to formulate a new design in private, those residents feel the task force is missing an opportunity to design a memorial that is reflective of and loved by the community. And they see the risk of a repeat, with a new design that might further offend members of the very community that has borne the brunt of HIV/AIDS in the U.S.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses the controversy surrounding the design of an HIV/AIDS memorial sculpture in Palm Springs. This issue is connected to SDG 11, which focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities. The controversy highlights the need for more robust debate and community engagement in the selection of public art pieces, which aligns with SDG 11’s goal of inclusive and participatory urban planning and management.

The article also touches on the broader question of who gets to decide what constitutes a memorial and how varying viewpoints should be handled. This raises issues of justice, accountability, and decision-making processes, which are relevant to SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
• SDG 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

The controversy surrounding the design of the HIV/AIDS memorial sculpture in Palm Springs highlights the need for inclusive and accessible public spaces (SDG 11.7). The community members express their desire for more input and engagement in the decision-making process, emphasizing the importance of participatory decision-making (SDG 16.7).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, indicators that could be used to measure progress towards the identified targets may include:

• Number of public art projects that involve community engagement and consultation
• Level of satisfaction and inclusivity reported by community members regarding the design and selection of public art
• Accessibility features and accommodations in public spaces
• Representation of diverse perspectives and voices in decision-making processes

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: desertsun.com

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