Because World AIDS Day falls on Thanksgiving weekend this year, little will be done in Dallas to mark the event.
For the past several years, AIDS agencies have held a festival in Main Street Garden, and testing had been done at a number of sites around the city.
This year’s Dallas World AIDS Day celebration on Dec. 1 is a virtual commemoration.
Dallas County has the highest rate of new HIV infections in Texas, and one of the highest in the U.S.
The international theme of World AIDS Day this year is Getting to Zero. In Dallas. According to the latest figures, the rate did drop slightly over the previous year.
People are encouraged to participate by using graphics provided on the World AIDS Day Dallas website on social media accounts to promote AIDS awareness.
AIDS Interfaith Network is coordinating the virtual event.
First Congregational United Church of Christ will hold a special World AIDS Day service Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.
“The service of remembrance begins at 5 p.m. and will be a time to remember and honor those who have died as well as those living with HIV/AIDS,” student pastor Caleb White wrote to Dallas Voice.
The service will be held in Bever Chapel. The church is located at 4201 Trail Lake Dr., Fort Worth. Call for more info. 817-923-2990.
LULAC 4215 Young Adult Rainbow Council and LULAC 4871 the Dallas Rainbow Council holds a brunch in support of those affected by HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day. La Calle Doce, 415 W. 12th St. in Oak Cliff. Dec. 1 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
United Black Ellument holds The Red Affair on Dec. 5 at Quixotic World, 2824 Main St. from 7–10 p.m. The event is free, but an RSVP is required.
TESTING
HIV testing is regularly available at Dallas County Health and Human Services at their building on Stemmons Freeway, AIDS Arms at their office on Jefferson Boulevard in Oak Cliff, the Resource Center’s Nelson Tebedo Clinic on Cedar Springs Road and AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s two locations — at Medical City in North Dallas and at AIDS Outreach Center in Fort Worth. Click on the links for more information about times, location and cost, if any.
On Monday, Dec. 2, Nelson-Tebedo Clinic will have free expanded walk-in testing. Increased staffing will be offering tests from 2 p.m.–7 p.m.
