LOS ANGELES (JUNE 12, 2017) — AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, was proud to once again join with the Los Angeles LGBTQ community in celebrating LA Pride, June 5-11. Founded in Los Angeles as AIDS Hospice Foundation in 1987 to provide a facility for terminally ill AIDS patients in California, AHF is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year and continues to support LGBTQ equality and the expansion of health care services to treat people living with HIV/AIDS. At festivals throughout the 2017 Pride season, AHF will give away free condoms, share information on STD prevention and treatment, and provide free HIV testing.
On Sunday, June 11th AHF staff, patients and members of the Impulse Group took part in the #ResistMarch, a march for human rights organized by LA Pride in solidarity with the National Equality March for Unity and Pride taking place in Washington DC on the same day. AHF’s marchers gathered at AHF’s Public Health Division office, located at 1710 N. La Brea, and joined in with the #ResistMarch participants on the march route that ended near West Hollywood Park.
AHF is proud to support the LGBTQ community in the Los Angeles area through its multiple AHF Healthcare Centers, AHF Pharmacy sites, and Out of The Closet Thrift Store locations in Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley.
“As the home of our global headquarters, AHF always looks forward to joining with the local LGBT community to celebrate Pride in Los Angeles. Our participation in this year’s march is particularly meaningful for us as we mark our 30th Anniversary of providing care to and advocating for the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “After 30 years of being on the frontlines in the fight against AIDS, we remain grateful to be able to provide access to medical care and breakthrough treatments that have allowed people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives and to help prevent transmitting the virus to others. Today, we are currently providing care to over 740,000 patients around the globe and we’re working to expand our operations internationally to be able to help even more people.”
In addition to providing free HIV testing and giveaways at Pride festivals nationwide, AHF patients, volunteers and staff will also march with its signature “One Community, One Love” Pride bus wrapped with smiling faces that represent the diversity of LGBTQ individuals and families. The bus is scheduled to appear in Pride parades in U.S. cities including Brooklyn (6/10); Long Island (6/11); Washington, DC (6/10); Columbus, OH (6/16); Houston (6/24); New York City, NY (6/25); San Diego (7/15); Oakland, CA (9/10); Dallas (9/16); Atlanta, GA (10/14); and Las Vegas (10/20).
For a complete list of Pride festivals in which AHF will participate in 2017, visit www.ahfparticipate.org
For more information on AHF Healthcare Center locations, AHF Pharmacy, and Out of the Closet Thrift Stores, visit www.hivcare.org. www.AHFpharmacy.org, and www.outofthecloset.org
For more pictures from LA Pride 2017, click on the image below:
