The Informer

30 Nov 2017

There will be light with San Francisco Gay Mens Chorus

Arts, History, HIV, Media, Media, News & Politics, Performing Arts, Society & Culture, the informer, World News

Unfortunately we ran out of time to air this segment on the Informer the day before World AIDS Day, so we thought what not make it a special podcast.

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus have a common saying before the curtain rises amongst the chorus, “I sing for two.” For each man standing, one chorus member has died of AIDS.

A quarter-century into the epidemic, the list of the dead is longer than the living: there are 210 singers and 257 obituaries.

 

In the early days of the chorus and during rehearsals in the 80s and 90s, long time chorus members recounted in an article for SFGATE.com what it was like to go to weekly memorials while planning your own funeral and hearing about other chorus members in hospital.

 

We now live in a time where young people, whether positive or negative stand side by side with the elders of our communities and have no idea or understanding of the devastation that our communities went through during the AIDS epidemic.

 

Here in Australia, we have LGBTI choruses perform at candlelight vigils and memorials each year, and tomorrow on Word AIDS Day, whether you are attending an event or not, take some time to come together and unite in the fight against HIV, to remember those who have been lost to this disease and to stand in solidarty with people living with HIV today. This day is an important part of our history, and just because we now have medication to combat the effects of HIV, doesn’t mean the HIV+ community don’t need our support and friendship.

Remember, you can show support for people living with HIV all year round, not just on World AIDS Day.

And be sure to buy a red ribbon.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:44 — 17.8MB)

Subscribe or Follow Us: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | iHeartRadio | Blubrry | Podchaser | Email | Deezer | RSS

10 Dec 2021

Aus passes Magnitsky laws, activists call for Chechen leaders to be targeted | Critics of proposed ‘cyber-bulling’ law say it will only make defamation lawsuits easier | Religious Discrimination Bill won’t protect those who face discrimination says gay Christian man | The Informer – 9 Dec 2021

Business

– Federal Parliament has passed Australia’s own version of Magnitsky Laws, which allows for targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for ...

3 Dec 2021

World AIDS Day | Dennis Altman on Aus Afghan refugee refusal | The Informer – 2 Dec 2021

Business

– World AIDS Day is 1 Dec so we look back at two stories from this season. One looks at ...

25 Nov 2021

Religious Discrimination Bill legalises discrimination opponents say | MQFF rebuffs calls to cut film funded by Israeli gov | The Informer – 25 Nov 2021

Business

– The federal government has tabled its long-awaited Religious Discrimination Bill. The legislation would weaken some existing protections for LGBTQIA+ ...