On Sunday, President Joe Biden honored World AIDS Day by displaying the AIDS Memorial Quilt on the South Lawn of the White House for the first time. This significant event brought together the President, First Lady Jill Biden, survivors, family members, and advocates, all united to pay tribute to those who lost their lives to the AIDS epidemic.
During the gathering, Biden highlighted the federal government’s commitment to supporting the 1.2 million individuals in the United States currently living with HIV, a virus that can progress to AIDS. He stated, “This movement is fully woven into the fabric and history of America. For all the lives lost, for all those that are still alive, look at what you’ve already done to change the hearts and minds, to save lives across the country and around the world. That’s the power of this movement.”
The quilt on display consisted of 124 sections that honored people who succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses. First introduced in 1987, the quilt was conceived in 1985 and has become a poignant symbol of remembrance. Additionally, a large red ribbon, representing awareness and support for those affected by HIV and AIDS, was draped across the South Portico of the White House.
According to White House statistics, approximately 40 million individuals worldwide are living with HIV. Jeanne White-Ginder, who introduced Biden at the ceremony, shared her personal connection to the cause. Her son, Ryan White, contracted AIDS through a contaminated blood transfusion at just 13 years old and sadly passed away at 18 in 1990. She reflected on how Ryan’s journey helped America recognize the need to “fight AIDS and not the people who have it.”
Under the Ryan White CARE Act, which became law in 1990, White-Ginder recalled her experience advocating for the measure and meeting Biden during his tenure as a senator from Delaware.
Moreover, the event also recognized Dr. Anthony Fauci, who served as the country’s leading infectious disease expert until leaving government in 2022. Fauci’s work in treating AIDS, as well as his prominent role during the coronavirus pandemic, has positioned him as a well-known figure in public health, despite facing criticism from some political factions.
The Biden administration has made a concerted effort to invest in combating the HIV epidemic and reducing the stigma faced by those living with the virus. One significant initiative has been the expansion of access to PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, which is utilized by at-risk populations to prevent HIV infections.
