Compass Community Center in Lake Worth Beach commemorated World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 with a ceremony, powerful speakers, and the unveiling of 20 panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
World AIDS Day is recognized annually to honor those who are living with and have died from AIDS and to renew the passion and the valor of the advocates and community member who put their hearts and souls into the movement.
The evening started with words from Mayor Betty Resch of Lake Worth Beach, who read a proclamation for World AIDS Day. After that Mars Tran, a young trans man who recently discovered his HIV positive status, spoke to the audience. Tran told the emotional story of his life and how he came to learn of his status.
Tran was followed by Dr. Casey Messer, the program manager for the Palm Beach County Ryan White HIV/AIDS Care Act Part A Program. Messer shared the current stats in Palm Beach County, emphasizing where great strides have been made, as well as where more work needs to be done.
The speakers were rounded out by Dr. Sandra Anderson, who has lived with HIV for more than 30 years. She spoke powerfully in a slam poetry style about how we as a society, as well as people with HIV, are not where we should be. People with HIV should be receiving the care they deserve, and society should be ending stigma and discrimination.
Finally, a new panel was introduced to be added to the AIDS Memorial Quilt. A panel of Mark Samuel Vigdor was inducted into the quilt. The panel was designed by his sister, Cindee Brown, with assistance and support from Compass Community Center. Each year, Compass tries to induct new panels into the quilt.
“It was such an honor and privilege to work with Cindee Brown on the creation of the panel for her late step-brother, Mark Samuel Vigdor. The names memorialized in the AIDS Memorial Quilt ensure that the lives of those who we have lost are not forgotten and their stories will live on for future generations to come,” said Dylan Brooks, director of HIV prevention at Compass. “For anyone interested in making a panel for a loved one, please either reach out to a member of the HIV Prevention Department at Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center or visit the National AIDS Memorial website to learn more.”
Compass held a candlelight vigil and moment of silence as it opened the doors to view the panels. Attendees viewed the panels in reverent silence before slowly making their ways out the doors.
