Friday, November 9, 2007

World AIDS Day event to be biggest in Dallas’ history

By John Wright of Dallas Voice

Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders, whose outspokenness about masturbation shocked some conservative Americans, will be the keynote speaker at Dallas' World AIDS Day event Nov. 30.

The North Texas HIV Service Providers Council will host the largest World AIDS Day event in Dallas' history on Nov. 30.

Traditionally, local AIDS service providers have held individual events on World AIDS Day. However, due to budget and staffing constraints, members of the 10-agency council opted to collaborate this year, said Raeline Nobles, executive director of AIDS Arms Inc.

The daylong event at the Hilton Anatole Hotel will feature 35 panels from the National AIDS Memorial Quilt and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders as keynote speaker.

"This is the first time all of the Ryan White-funded agencies have collaborated together on such an event," said Nobles, who chairs the council's planning committee for World AIDS Day. "We're all participating together so people have one event to go to that's really a landmark event, a memorable one."

Nobles said it will also mark the first time in recent history that so many panels of the quilt have been in Dallas at once. The 35 panels will include several dedicated to the memory of locals, including Steve Burrus, Alan Ross, Greg Dollgener, Drew Lubarsky and Bryan Ray Sutton.

Nobles said the two goals of World AIDS Day, which originated in 1988, are to remember those who've died and to stress how much work is left to be done in fighting the epidemic.

She said the latter goal takes on added significance in a time of "compassion fatigue" and "donor fatigue." The theme of this year's event in Dallas is "One Candle Lights the Way."

Dallas' World AIDS Day celebration on Nov. 30 will include a display of 35 panels of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt as shown in this photo from a previous exhibition. The North Texas HIV Service Providers Council is hosting the event, "One Candle Lights the Way." It is expected to be the largest World AIDS Day event ever observed in Dallas.

"What we want to try to express to folks is that one person can still make a difference," Nobles said. "We have to figure out a way to relight compassion in the community. We're trying to find a way to bring people back into the fold."

One person who has made a difference is Dr. Brady Allen, an HIV specialist in Dallas for the last 25 years. Allen, who's retiring in December, will receive a lifetime achievement award from the Service Providers Council during the event. To read more about Allen, go here.

The Women's Chorus of Dallas will provide entertainment for World AIDS Day. Former City Councilwoman Veletta Forsythe Lill will be mistress of ceremonies, and County Judge Jim Foster will offer opening remarks.

The panels will be on display from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Elders will speak during a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

"It will be very interesting to see what her candid remarks will be about the epidemic because we have no doubt she will speak from her heart and speak the truth," Nobles said. "It may be difficult for some people to hear."

Look for an exclusive interview with Elders in the Nov. 30 edition of Dallas Voice.

The quilt display and an Information Fair will be free and open to the public. Tickets to the luncheon are $30 if purchased by Nov. 26. Tickets will be $40 after Nov. 26 or at the door if they're still available.

For information on purchasing tickets, call 214-521-5191, ext. 364.

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