The World AIDS Day Out of Darkness observance, founded 30 years ago by Brent Nicholson Earle, of AREA (the American Run for the End AIDS), resumed on December 1 after a year’s hiatus. Its components were a ceremony, including the reading of names of those we’ve lost to AIDS, at the New York City AIDS Memorial, in the Village, opposite where St. Vincent’s Hospital used to be; a candlelight vigil down Seventh Avenue and across Greenwich Avenue to Christopher Street, past the Stonewall; and a gathering at St. John’s Lutheran Church, a bit further west on Christopher Street.
At the AIDS Memorial, following the reading of names, speakers includied out gay and HIV+ New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson; New York City Councilmember-elect Erik Bottcher of District Three, including the Village, Chelsea, and Hell’s Kitchen, so hard-hit during the early days of AIDS; Brent, who said, “We will march together in memory, in hope, and in solidarity;” Out of Darkness’ Barbara Martinez, whose new documentary film “For the Love of Friends” concerns Brent and his historic nationwide 1986 run; Annabel Palma, Chair of the New York City Commission on Human Rights; and GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis)’—and Cherry Grove’s—Matt Baney, formerly of St. Vincent’s. We were introduced to the larger-than-life Pride Puppets, who would participate in the gathering at the church, and invited to take votive candles, arrayed around the fountain at the AIDS Memorial, for the vigil ahead.
All of us had to show proof of vaccination and remain masked during the ceremony at St. John’s, which was decorated with panels from the AIDS Quilt. Kobi Bromley and other Flagger Gathering Flaggers waved their colorful cloth during “Save a Place on the Dance Floor for Me,” sung by Dawn Tallman and dedicated here “to activists and caregivers who have gone before us.” St. John’s Pastor Mark Erson warmly welcomed us, and we heard addresses, on screen, by GMHG co-founder Dr. Larry Mass, who declared there was “No victory too small” in his speech, and primary and HIV care doctor Oni Blackstock, who recalled Robert (Bobby) Rayford, who died in 1969 and is considered to have had the earliest-known case of AIDS. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, remembering those we lost early on, said, “Those deaths were a catalyst to bring people together.” “We have to make sure that PreP [pre-exposure prophylaxis] is available and affordable,” she added, and also discussing the Covid pandemic, closed with “We’ll keep fighting!”
A sextet of singers, Aaron Casey, Kristyn Christman-McCarty, Mario Diaz-Moresco, Kathleen Grace Fiori, Christian Adam Jacobs, and Sara Misch, dulcetly sang composer Salomon Lerner’s “Remember,” with words by Brent, from Barbara’s film, with Gordon Schermer at the piano, and later, “Save a Place on the Dance Floor for Me.”
With GMHC’s Krishna Stone reading the inspirational texts, the Pride Puppets participated in the blessing of the safer sex kits, and we responded, “Our lives matter.” Reverend Pat Baumgardner, of MCC (Metropolitan Community Church) touched us as she spoke of the day, 40 years ago, when the New York Times first wrote of AIDS as GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency) and when all that she and her parishioners could do was bathe, in warm water, men’s legs which were purple with KS (Kaposi’s sarcoma).
Jeff Bosacki’s words concerned the AIDS Quilt and he emphasized, “Keep remembering people’s names.” Brent remembered World AIDS Day 1992, when lights on the Empire State Building and other edifices were extinguished for 15 minutes. He castigated WNBC for scheduling the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree for World AIDS Day after it had promised not to. Barbara showed the trailer for her documentary. The flaggers brought the ceremony to a close flagging to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,’ sung by Jocelyn Brown, and a reception followed.

all photos by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
readers of names at the AIDS Memorial
NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson
NYC Councilmember-elect Erik Bottcher
votive candles for the vigil
Brent Nicholson Earle
Barbara Martinez
NYC Commission on Human Rights Chair Annabel Palma
Matt Baney
Pride Puppets
Brent, Barbara & Out of Darkness sign
3 photos- the vigil
a pause before Stonewall
Flaggers
Kobi Bromley
Pastor Mark Erson
singers & pianist Gordon Schermer
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer
Krishna Stone
Pride Puppet
Reverend Pat Baumgardner
Brent Nicholson Earle & Jeff Bosacki
Barbara Martinez & ASL interpreter
Flaggers