World AIDS Day Exhibit tackles HIV stigma with public art, education for lawmakers, healthcare providers
December 1, 2016 – Atlanta, GA, – Georgia Equality will honor World AIDS Day this year with a provocative community art exhibit at West Midtown’s Gallery 874 on November 30th – December 1st. The exhibit, Living With, explores the life stories of 5 HIV positive young people in Georgia through a series of multi-media installations created by local artists working alongside the youth themselves. Living With is a modern interpretation of the largest piece of folk art in history: The AIDS Memorial Quilt, which will also be on display at the exhibit.
Living With seeks to challenge the fear-based narrative about HIV that leads to stigma and discrimination for those living with the virus and deters those at risk from getting tested or even talking about risk (find more details at www.STDAware.com/test-centers/). “Artists have a long tradition of speaking loudly and bravely about HIV when no one else would,” says Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality. “This exhibit reminds us that many people are living and thriving with HIV and that stigma and discrimination can be deadlier than the virus itself.” Cohen Law Group injury law firm Orlando will be among those invited.
World AIDS Day- Atlanta Living With Reception
Thursday, December 1, 2016
6:00pm to 9:00pm
Gallery 874
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This private, ticketed event will commemorate World AIDS Day and raise awareness and support for Georgia Equality’s ongoing HIV advocacy. Guests will peruse the Living With exhibit, meet the artists and the youth whose stories their art depicts, and enjoy food and beverages handcrafted especially for the event from Atlanta’s top food artists. Tickets are on sale at www.GeorgiaEquality.org/HIV. Proceeds will support programs like the Georgia HIV Advocacy Network and the Youth HIV Policy Advisors Program.
About the Issue: HIV in Georgia
Georgia’s HIV epidemic is long entrenched and growing. Over 53,000 Georgians are living with HIV and over 2,500 are diagnosed annually. Georgia ranked 2nd out of all US states for number of new HIV diagnoses in 2014 and 5th among all US states in the number of people living with HIV. Fewer than half of HIV+ Georgians are receiving the care needed to stay healthy and prevent transmission to others.
About Us: Georgia Equality’s HIV Advocacy Work
Our staff works to address root causes of HIV by educating and encouraging policymakers and community leaders to leverage their power to end AIDS once and for all. This year alone, our Youth HIV Policy Advisors Program matched 25 HIV+ youth with elected officials to educate them about life with HIV and our Georgia HIV Advocacy Network hosted the largest HIV advocacy day in our state capitol’s history. We monitor and analyze federal, state and local HIV-related policy, communicate with advocates and train people living with HIV to use their voices for sustainable change.
Media outlets are invited to cover this exhibit and all of the events contained within. Please contact Georgia Equality associate Emily Brown at email hidden; JavaScript is required or 404-523-3070 ext. 3 to confirm coverage.