News | City of West Hollywood

City of West Hollywood Recognizes World AIDS Day 2023

Each year, the City of West Hollywood recognizes World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 United Nations World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention and recognition takes place each year on December 1.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate people who have passed away due to HIV/AIDS. Annually, UNAIDS agencies, governments, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and others across the globe join to campaign around specific themes related to AIDS. The theme of this year’s #WorldAIDSDay is “Let Communities Lead” to shine light on how community-led interventions are central to the end of AIDS.

City of West Hollywood’s Commitment

“The City’s annual recognition of World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us to remember loved ones lost over the last four decades to AIDS, to support those living with HIV, and to chart a course to end AIDS,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne. “Far too many people have died far too soon because of HIV and AIDS. In West Hollywood, for many years, we have declared that this is unacceptable. Our Human Services team works to support organizations that facilitate access to medical and emotional care, prevention and treatment, and resources. Our HIV Zero efforts help bring us toward the day we can all celebrate the end of suffering and loss from AIDS.”

Events and Programming

This year, the City of West Hollywood will recognize World AIDS Day with events and programming, as follows:

1. 23rd Annual Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Awards

   The Warrior Awards event will take place on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The Warrior Awards event is free and open to the public and no RSVP is required. Limited validated parking will be available at the adjacent West Hollywood Park 5-Story structure.

   Warrior Awards are given to outstanding employees or volunteers of local agencies that offer HIV/AIDS and/or substance abuse prevention and care services. This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Cathy Reback, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of Friends Community Center, who will also receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

   This year’s Warrior Awards honorees, in addition, will be:

   • Michael Buitron – APLA Health;
   • Ramon Cervantes-Tadeo – C.I.T.Y. x1 Youth Group;
   • Paul Chavez – Los Angeles LGBT Center;
   • Kimberly Curtin, Pharm.D., APh – Men’s Health Foundation
   • Susan Holt, Psy.D., LMFT – Being Alive;
   • Ilene Kasser – The Tweakers Project;
   • Prudence Mendiola – Friends Community Center; and
   • John Sovec, LMFT – The Life Group LA.

2. AIDSWatch

   AIDSWatch, the electronic memorial to people lost to HIV and AIDS, will be viewable on www.AIDSWatch.org and on the City of West Hollywood’s WeHoTV broadcast and streaming channels, including Spectrum Channel 10 within West Hollywood, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2023 for 24 hours.

3. World AIDS Day Event

   The City of West Hollywood will join STORIES: The AIDS Monument and APLA Health in a World AIDS Day event on Friday, December 1, 2023. The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) Respite Deck, located at 8750 El Tovar Place. After a short program with refreshments, attendees will descend the grand staircase of the ARC at 6:30 p.m. in a candlelight procession through West Hollywood Park and along N. Robertson, Santa Monica, and N. San Vicente Boulevards to the City’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. There, the evening will continue with a screening of the award-winning 2023 documentary Commitment to Life. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the screening will begin promptly at 7:15 p.m. Events are free to attend and open to the public. Limited validated parking will be available at the West Hollywood Park 5-Story structure. Advance RSVP is requested by reserving a spot on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-aids-day-in-west-hollywood-tickets-750017812467.

West Hollywood’s Response to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

The onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic had a significant impact in West Hollywood. The disease’s elevated infection rate among gay men caused a devastatingly high number of deaths in the City. The City of West Hollywood was one of the first government entities to provide social services grants to local HIV/AIDS organizations. The City of West Hollywood sponsored one of the first AIDS awareness campaigns in the country in October 1985 and the City’s response to the AIDS crisis has been recognized as a model for other cities, nationally and globally.

HIV Zero Strategic Initiative

The City of West Hollywood actively participates in the development of programs that can bring awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and services to people living with HIV/AIDS. In January 2015, the City announced its vision to become an ‘HIV Zero’ city. The City is currently implementing its HIV Zero Strategic Initiative.

For more information, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Human Services Division at wehocares@weho.org or at (323

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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

• SDG 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
• SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
• SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries.

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

• Indicator for SDG 3.3: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 population.
• Indicator for SDG 10.3: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
• Indicator for SDG 17.16: Amount of support to developing countries for the development, transfer, dissemination, and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: weho.org

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