Words Of Remembrance:

Please join us at the New York City AIDS Memorial (Greenwich Avenue & West 12th Street), on Wednesday, December 1 at 5 PM for a reading curated by Tim Murphy to observe World AIDS Day and commemorate the 5th anniversary of the public dedication of the New York City AIDS Memorial.

The reading will be followed by the 30th Anniversary Out of the Darkness candlelight vigil at 6 PM. These events are free and open to the public.

ABOUT OUR READERS:

Tim Murphy is a longtime NYC-based novelist, journalist, and teacher living with HIV since 2000. He will be reading the work of poet Tory Dent, who died in 2005.

Jay W. Walker is a longtime HIV survivor, activist, co-founder of the Reclaim Pride Coalition, and former GMHC staffer. He will be reading the work of poet Essex Hemphill, who died in 1995.

Kevin Hertzog is a creative director and co-founder of Gays Against Guns living with HIV since 1994. He will be reading "You Are Not Alone" by his friend Michael Slocum, an artist, writer, and activist who died in 1995.

Patricia Shelton, diagnosed with HIV in 1991, is an educator, activist consultant, speaker, advocate & outreach worker who works at Settlement Health Inc. & Medical Center in East Harlem. She will be reading from the work of Iris de la Cruz, a writer, and activist for whom Iris House is named and who died in 1991.

John Grauwiler, diagnosed with HIV in 2005, is an NYC schoolteacher and cofounder of Gays Against Guns. He will be reading from the work of poet David Frechette, who died in 1991.

Ed Barron, diagnosed with HIV in 1986, is a New Jersey-based activist and longtime survivor. He'll be reading the work of Paul Monette, a writer who died in 1995.

Lillibeth Gonzalez, diagnosed with HIV in 1992, is a community health educator at GMHC. She will be reading the work of Reinaldo Arenas, a Cuban poet, novelist, and playwright who died in 1990.

Kineen MaFa, diagnosed with HIV in 2003, is an artivist, spiritual guide, and public speaker. Kineen will be reading the work of Mary Bowman, a poet born with HIV who died in 2019.

Bruce Ward has been living with HIV since 1984. He is a writer, actor, teacher, and long-time HIV/AIDS advocate. He will be reading from the work of David Feinberg, who died in 1994.

Ivy Kwan Arce was diagnosed with HIV in 1990 and is the mother of two sons, an artist, designer and activist. She will be reading from the work of B. Michael Hunter, who died in 2001.