I'm seeing RED!

Yesterday, December 1, 2011, was a special day. There were no parties, or lavish dinners, although it was about an anniversary of sorts. 30 years ago in 1981, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recognized a disease for the first time, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. You and I know it as AIDS. I remember back in 1991 watching a telecast of the Tonys and wondering why everyone was wearing a red ribbon on their tuxedo lapel or designer dress. It was the first time I had ever seen anything like that. Of course now, it is common place, and there are ribbons of every color of the rainbow for awareness of everything from domestic violence to breast cancer. I didn't know much about AIDS then, neither did anyone else. At first it was called the "Gay" disease because a large portion of the homosexual community were being diagnosed. It is not a "Gay" disease. Anyone can contract the virus, HIV, which causes AIDS. That fact is a common misconception about this disease. There are many things that people don't understand about it, and that is what yesterday was all about. December 1st was proclaimed World AIDS Day. It was about raising awareness, and getting information out that is correct, because, although the disease is deadly, there are so many things that can be done to prevent it. In doing a little research to write this post, I looked up celebrities who have or had AIDS. I was amazed at the number of people. The list went on and on, and most of them have passed away. We've made great strides, but we still have a long way to go in educating EVERYONE about this horrible disease. I commend organizations like the Fan Free Clinic here in Richmond for doing everything they can to raise awareness. Fight the fear and get educated. You can't ignore it by pretending it would never touch you or one you love. You'd be surprised. You may know someone right now who has it, but they're embarrassed to reveal it to anyone because of the ignorance that is still so rampant about AIDS and why people get it. I pray that one day there will be a cure, not just for the disease but the stigma that's attached to it.