Events celebrate Worlds AIDS Day

Grand Valley is hosting three events planned for Monday, December 3 to observe Worlds AIDS Day, which takes place December 1. Since 1988, the first day of December aims to celebrate the progress that has been made to battle the condition.

Viral Apartheid: The Rise of HIV Exceptionalism: noon, room 136E, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
How HIV became one of the only diseases to attain a felony status in the U.S. will be explored in a presentation by Todd Heywood, researcher and senior reporter for the American Independent News Network.

Harm Reduction: 2 p.m., 136E, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Pam Lynch, clinical support supervisor at Centra Wellness, will discuss ways to reduce risks of contracting HIV and outdated prevention practices.

West Michigan Premiere of “How to Survive a Plague”: Two screenings will take place at noon in the Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center and at 6 p.m. in Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center.
The film is about the story of two coalitions whose activism and innovation help turned AIDS into a manageable condition.

“World AIDS Day has a dual focus,” said Colette Seguin Beighley, director of the LGBT Resource Center. “First, we remember and honor those who have lost their lives. Second, we focus on how to bring an end to this pandemic. New research shows that we could end the AIDS pandemic within the next 30 years with a commitment to funding projects such as prevention efforts, support services and treatment to people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS.”

The events are LIB 100 and US 201 approved and co-sponsored by LGBT Resource Center, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Women’s Center and The Grand Rapids Red Project and the Herman Miller LGBT Inclusivity Resource Team.

For more information, contact LGBT Resource Center at (616) 331-2530 or www.gvsu.edu/lgbtrc.