On World AIDS Day Dec. 1, the Lighthouse Foundation of Chicagoland will host its 4th annual commemoration to honor lives lost to HIV/AIDS, raise awareness about HIV, and foster solidarity within the Black LGBTQ+ community. The event is funded in part by a TC CFAR Community Dissemination Award (CDA).
According to aidsvu.org, the rate of Black men in Illinois living with HIV is 6.6 times higher than the rate of white men, and 18.4 times higher for Black women than white women.
“Lighthouse Foundation of Chicagoland is an organization that honors and centers many of the communities most disparately impacted by HIV/AIDS, like Black men who have sex with men, Black transgender and gender-diverse people, and Black heterosexual cisgender women,” said Jamie Frazier, founder, executive director, and board member of the Lighthouse Foundation of Chicagoland. “Our annual World AIDS Day event provides us an opportunity to speak to the plight of these three subpopulations, as well as honor lives lost and celebrate our resilience.”
This year’s Lighthouse Foundation World AIDS Day event is on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Gallery Guichard, a Black-owned art gallery in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. The gathering features afternoon tea, critical discussions, and a panel conversation with local leaders that will explore the ongoing impact of HIV/AIDS in the community, focusing on the experiences of Black women.
“Lighthouse Foundation will be uplifting the voices of Black women living with HIV through a powerful panel discussion. This conversation will explore their lived experiences, highlight the ongoing impact of HIV/AIDS in our community, and center the narratives and expertise of those most affected,” said Frazier. “Our goal is to create a space for reflection, education, and connection while amplifying the voices that are too often overlooked.”
The CDAs support the dissemination of HIV research and engagement between community members and investigators in the Chicago area. Frazier explains how receiving the TC CFAR’s CDA is instrumental in his organization’s ability to host the event and disseminate HIV research to the Black LGBTQ+ community.
“This funding from the CDA will provide support for the event space and speakers,” said Frazier. “By having TC CFAR staff table at the event, we are making research a community resource by engaging with the Black LGBTQ+ community and disseminating findings about PrEP and HIV care.”
Learn more about the Lighthouse Foundation’s World AIDS Day event and register.
This year’s World AIDS Day theme is “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress.” On the 36th anniversary of the first World AIDS Day, organizers remind us that we must remain steadfast in our commitment to prevent new HIV infections and provide essential services to all people living with HIV globally. Everyone is encouraged to honor the lives affected by the HIV epidemic and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.
Visit the HIV.gov World AIDS Day website to find out how you can get involved.