Dear Monument Supporters:

I hope you are enjoying the summer despite the political and cultural challenges we are facing in the U.S. These are difficult times for HIV/AIDS care providers, for those advocating for prevention, and for scientists working on improving treatment and finding a cure to AIDS.  Funding has been cut or is the subject of see-sawing decisions by federal regulators and courts. Yet, we must persevere to treat those living with HIV, educate the public in order to avoid future infections, and preserve our history despite attempts to erase it.

Fortunately, in the midst of a difficult year for the HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ communities, I can report that we are making great progress toward the opening of our Monument this fall.

We continue to remain on schedule for substantial completion of the Monument in mid-October 2025 and for the last “clean up”/punch list items to be finished by the end of October.

Keep your eyes peeled for a Save-The-Date announcement for the Grand Opening of the Monument, it’s coming soon!  It feels so rewarding to be able to plan for this monumental event after over 12 years of dedicated work by our Board and the City of West Hollywood.

If you want to sign up for updates from the City of West Hollywood on Monument construction, please visit www.engage.weho.org/aidsmonument and create an account.

STORYTELLING UPDATES

More stories are posted regularly, so please be sure to visit our website (www.aidsmonument.org) and our social media (@theaidsmonument) on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

HEAR Our STORIES:

We now have 126 audio stories posted on our website.  Many thanks to John Lavin, who has edited dozens of these audio stories for free over the last few years, and Karen Eyres, who sourced archival material for the website.  Since our last newsletter, we posted six new stories:

Social Media:

We posted 10 videos with stories on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook:

• David Bohnett’s memories of his late partner, trailblazing Judge and LA County AIDS Commission Chair, Rand Schrader;

• Annette Bening fondly remembers Tony- and Emmy-winning actor Michael Jeter;

• Tai Babilonia pays tribute to fellow ice-skating champions Robert Wagenhoffer and John Curry;

• Jake Glaser honors his late mom Elizabeth, founder of Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and his late sister, Ariel;

• Sue Scheibler’s story of caring for her friend, Terry;

• Whoopi Goldberg looks back at Emile Ardolino, her director from the hit movie “Sister Act”;

• Guy Berube tells about meeting and now missing his late boyfriend, Jaime Jesus Jimenez;

• Wilson Cruz pays homage to Real World reality TV star and AIDS activist Pedro Zamora;

• Justin Ross Cohen expresses his gratitude to legendary Broadway director and choreographer Michael Bennett; and,

• We say a fond goodbye to a local legend, Jewel Thais-Williams.  The founder and owner of Catch One and co-founder of Rue’s House passed away earlier this month.

NEW DIGITAL CONTENT IS COMING TO THE WEBSITE

We are busy producing some exciting new material for our website, which be ready in time for the Monument opening:

• a Welcome from The City of West Hollywood and FAM, featuring Mayor Chelsea Byers, Vice Mayor John Heilman, and FAM Board Chair Irwin Rappaport;

• a Design Tour of the Monument, narrated by FAM Board Member Rogerio Carvalheiro who is an architect, UCLA instructor and chair of FAM’s Design Committee; and

• a Brief History of HIV/AIDS will give listeners an overview of the disease and its impact on our nation so that those unfamiliar with HIV/AIDS can understand what we went through and the challenges that remain.  Those interested in learning more will be able to listen to additional chapters on Science & Medicine; Law & Policy; Activism & Organizing; and Culture & Society.

  The history was written and is being produced by FAM Board Chair Irwin Rappaport with consulting from Dr. David Hardy, Stephen Simon, David Gere and Stephen Bennett, and editing by David Neuendorf.

  We’ve assembled a tour-de-force group of activists, celebrities, caregivers, community leaders, elected officials and long-term survivors who have narrated his important history, and we are so grateful for their generosity in donating their time:

  • Sharon Stone, actress and former amfAR Global Ambassador

  • Sheryl Lee Ralph, Emmy-winner and AIDS activist

  • Wilson Cruz, actor, activist and GLSEN Board Chair

  • Matt Bomer, Golden Globe-winning actor

  • Greg Louganis, Olympic Gold Medalist in diving and author/activist

  • Hon. Barbara Boxer, former US Senator (CA)

  • Hon. Henry Waxman, former US Member of Congress (Los Angeles)

  • Lily Tomlin, actress/comedian and winner of Tony, Emmy and Grammy awards

  • Dustin Lance Black, Oscar-winning screenwriter and LGBT rights activist

  • Hon. Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Supervisor

  • Phill Wilson, Black AIDS Institute founder & former member, Presidential Advisory Council on HIV & AIDS

  • Dr. Michael Gottlieb who co-wrote the first report issued by the CDC about the disease

  • Bruce Vilanch, Emmy-winning writer and actor/comedian

  • Dr. David Hardy, USC professor, HIV/AIDS doctor and researcher

  • Rev. Dr. Russell Thornhill, former CEO of Minority AIDS Project

  • Torie Osborn, former CEO of Los Angeles LGBT Center & Co-Chair of the “No on 64” campaign

  • Hank Stratton, Director of Johnny Carson School of Film & Theater, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln

  • Cliff Morrison, Clinical AIDS Coordinator at San Francisco General and founder of Ward 5B

  • Mark S. King, author of My Fabulous Disease and long-term survivor

  • Craig DeSilva, Emmy and GLAAD award-winning voice actor and composer

  • Jon Davidson, ACLU Senior Counsel and former legal director at Lambda Legal

  • Karl Schmid, Emmy and GLAAD award-winning entertainment reporter, Plus Life Media founder

  • Tony Valenzuela, One Institute Executive Director and former FAM Executive Director

  • Mark Malkin, Variety Senior Culture & Events Editor

  • Helene Schpak of ACT UP/LA

  • Sherri Lewis, singer, long-time survivor and FAM Board Member

  • Robert Contreras, Bienestar President & CEO

  • Hon. Lauren Meister, West Hollywood City Council Member

  • Hon. John Erickson, West Hollywood City Council Member

  • Hon. Danny Hang, West Hollywood City Council Member

  • Hon. Abbe Land, former West Hollywood Mayor and former CEO of Trevor Project

  • Hon. John Duran, former West Hollywood Mayor & former Co-Chair of Life Lobby

  • Phil Curtis, the longest serving APLA employee

        Other narrators are being finalized, and editing is underway!

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MISSION WITH A DONATION

As FAM nears the opening of STORIES: The AIDS Monument, we hope you will help us to deliver quality programming and events at the Monument by making a tax-deductible donation.  Your contribution will allow us to make the Monument a place for the community and visitors to gather for inspiration, education, memories and activism.

Donations can be made at our website or by mailing a check, payable to “Foundation for The AIDS Monument,” to 1049 Havenhurst Dr. #133, West Hollywood, CA 90046.

With thanks for your continued interest and support,