Organization seeks to 're-ignite passion' needed to combat HIV/AIDS

AID Atlanta hosts candle light vigil

In conjunction with Monday’s National Gay Men’s HIV Awareness Day and the state’s new HIV/AIDS outreach initiative targeting gay men , Aid Atlanta is sponsoring a Candle Light Vigil on Sunday.

According to Steven Igarashi, Gay Outreach Program Coordinator for AID Atlanta, the event will take place Sunday night at Saint Mark United Methodist Church at 8 p.m. The event will feature community speakers, some poetry and AID Atlanta staff members and others reflecting on personal experiences losing friends and family to AIDS.  Following that, attendees will line Peachtree Street for a candle light vigil and moment of silence  in recognition of those lost to AIDS. This is the first such event for AID Atlanta.

The state’s new Taking Control initiative, announced Friday, is geared to reach men having sex with other men. Igarashi says that the initiative, which will be multi-tiered and rolled out in stages throughout the state, was created in response to comments that not enough HIV/AIDS prevention outreach was being  done for gay men.

According to Igarashi, Atlanta is seventh in the nation in new infections for HIV/AIDS.  He feels that the vigil, as well as the new initiative, is a great way to re-ignite the passion needed in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Candle Light Vigil
Sunday, September 26 at 8 p.m.
Saint Mark United Methodist Church
781 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 870-7763
www.stmarkumc.org