Over the weekend I wrote a post reflecting on the AIDS quilt that used to make tours around the country before being unfurled on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Today, The Daily News informs us that a permanent memorial has been dedicated in Hudson River Park.
“I can sail without wind, I can row without oars, but I cannot part from my friend without tears,” reads the black granite bench, dedicated yesterday on a curved path in Hudson River Park.
Other commemorations around the city will include the following events:
- In City Hall Park at midnight, Housing Works began calling out, as part of a 24-hour vigil, the names of those who have died from AIDS
- To mark the day, the Empire State Building will have a red glow.
Just as important as remembering those who have been lost worldwide to AIDS, is the fact that there are still too many people who do not know their status. According to Marjorie Hill of the Gay Men’s Crisis Center,
“New York City is still the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic,” she said. “The one in four New Yorkers that right now, on World AIDS Day, is living with HIV but does not know his or her HIV status is of keen concern.”
As a matter of fact, according to the East Harlem HIV Care Network, East Harlem suffers from the second highest cumulative AIDS cases in the city. It is also reportedly the leading cause of death for women of color and is in the top 3 for the women between the ages of 35-44 according to statistics from the Iris House website. In addition, African American women and Hispanic women account for 40% of all new HIV cases and nearly 50% of adults diagnosed with HIV are women.
Now if those statistics aren’t enough to be a cause for concern then I don’t is.
Posted on December 1, 2008 by D. Bell