"FACING AIDS together, with YOU": Communities Facing AIDS for World AIDS Day

Last week for World AIDS Day (December 1) we were honored to join colleagues and friends around the world in Facing AIDS. Over 1,300 photos were uploaded to FlickrExit Disclaimer, saying why you were Facing AIDS for World AIDS Day.

As we said when we kicked off Facing AIDS, World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us to make our voices heard. Together we can reduce HIV-related stigma and increase HIV testing and access to care. This is the third year we've hosted the Facing AIDS initiative, and this year we tried some new things and saw some new developments compared to 2009 and 2008.

This year we used TwitterExit Disclaimer and FacebookExit Disclaimer to share one of your Facing AIDS messages every weekday in November -- and the response was extremely positive. In response to the Facing AIDS photo “I am 71...Facing AIDS with dignity and courage!Exit Disclaimer” one Facebook fan wrote, “Your Courage gives me strength...my sister is in the last stages of AIDS and I’m having a hard time coping...so thank you for them deep words...DIGNITY & COURAGE!”

We turned again to community groups (who have hosted a Facing AIDS event for the last two years) to help us put together a video about hosting a Facing AIDS eventExit Disclaimer.

We were again humbled by your dedication and creativity. Community participation ranged from local public health departments such as Kern Public HealthExit Disclaimer, to research projects such as the IMPACT ProgramExit Disclaimer, to service providers and nonprofits such as the National Council of La Raza Institute for Hispanic HealthExit Disclaimer, the Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness CenterExit Disclaimer, the HIV/AIDS Resource CenterExit Disclaimer, Baltimore World AIDS DayExit Disclaimer, the U.C.S.F Center of Excellence for Transgender HealthExit Disclaimer, Good Samaritan ProjectExit Disclaimer, and many, many more. A number of our Federal colleagues such as SAMHSA, CDCNPINExit Disclaimer, and Disability.govExit Disclaimer added photos to the Flickr group and/or shared blog posts, among their many efforts to recognize the day.

This year many of you shared messages about making the vision of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to see some of the things people had to say about why they are supporting the NHAS. Speaking of videos, stay tuned for our Facing AIDS compilation video where we will be highlighting more of your Facing AIDS photos!

This World AIDS Day, we collaborated with old and new partners such as The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria!) and share HIV testing information. Through partnerships, individuals, and online communities, you helped us reach thousands of people with information about World AIDS Day and HIV testing. We are truly humbled to see how Facing AIDS has become a part of the many, many activities that happened worldwide this year to mark World AIDS Day.

On behalf of the entire HIV.gov team, THANK YOU, for your support on World AIDS Day, and always. We will continue to Face AIDS with you every day - to end HIV related stigma, promote testing, and make the vision of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy real. As one participant wrote, ”Knowledge is power...Facing AIDS can save your lifeExit Disclaimer.”