Members of Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust are taking the lead in this year’s commemoration of World AIDS Day, hosting an evening of remembrance and reflection in partnership with AIDS Memory UK.
The event, taking place on Monday 1 December from 6:30 – 8:00 pm, will be generously hosted at the historic Fitzrovia Chapel — a site deeply intertwined with the history of those who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS-related illnesses, as it is situated close
to the former Middlesex Hospital.
The evening will include poetry readings, music performances, and personal reflections delivered by members of the Trust. Guests will then join a symbolic walk to the nearby site selected for The AIDS Memorial in London, which will be realised in the coming
years in a new public artwork by acclaimed artist Anya Gallaccio and supported by the Mayor of London.
Debbie Weekes-Bernard, London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, said:
“This event marking World AIDS Day offers a poignant moment to reflect on those we have lost to HIV/AIDS related illness and unite in our battle against the virus. It reminds us how far we have come in tackling HIV/AIDS, but also that there is further to
go in ending stigma and achieving equality for all people affected in our communities. I am proud that City Hall is supporting London’s first permanent HIV/AIDS memorial, which will be an important message of solidarity and a symbol of hope, as we build a
better and healthier London for everyone.”
Ash Kotak, Founder / Artistic Director of AIDS Memory UK, said: “It’s enlightening and moving to see young LGBTQ+ people take an interest in HIV & AIDS History. The intergenerational transfer of queer knowledge, works both ways and can be rewarding
and unifying.”
Lukasz Konieczka, Executive Director of Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust, said:
“This event is not only about remembering those we lost but also about empowering young LGBT+ persons to honour their legacy and continue the conversation about compassion, health, and community.”
Freya Bently, Culture and Community Manager of The FItzrovia Chapel, said:
“We at the Fitzrovia Chapel are so very proud to be hosting this special remembrance event for those who have been lost to HIV/AIDS. In doing so, we honour our history as chapel to the Middlesex Hospital, which housed the UK’s first dedicated AIDS wards
in the 1980s and 1990s. We’re pleased to be working with the Mosaic LGBT Young Person’s Trust and AIDS Memory UK to ensure that the story of HIV/AIDS is accessed by younger generations.”
Everyone is welcome to attend, but advance booking is required to manage capacity. To reserve a place, please visit
http://link.outsavvy.com/aids-day.