Candles for HIV past, present, and future (2 photos)

Candles for HIV past, present, and future (2 photos)

Two local people with HIV were in attendance and they spoke of hope to end the spread of the virus

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1 / 1 A sky lantern being launched. A candlelight vigil for those with HIV and AIDS was held at Bellevue Park on Sunday. The vigil was part of Pridefest. Jeff Klassen/SooToday

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During a candlelight vigil for those with HIV and AIDS at Bellevue Park on Sunday, one person commented that he lost around 100 people to HIV and AIDS. Well, actually, they said they stopped counting.

Three candles were lit and memorial messages were read for the past, present, and future - ‘To remember those who we have lost and celebrate their lives… for those continuing to live with HIV and AIDS (and) to give continued hope and strength in our work in outreach, prevention, and research.’

After, those in attendance were invited to speak.

One person, who has lived with HIV for 31 years, commented that he had seen many friends pass away in that time.

He said that he wanted to highlight the celebration of people, not just those in the past, but those in the present that continue to work.

Another person talked about how he had gotten HIV from his husband who had not disclosed his HIV status to him. He talked about how he believes HIV/AIDS could be cured in his lifetime using the drug Truvada.

“If everyone took Truvada, HIV would be wiped out and relegated to history like Polio within our lifetime. Get educated,” he said.

Another person spoke about how those with HIV can still have children.

“An HIV diagnosis was once a death sentence, not just physically but socially. And now as we look to the future, we realize nothing is as impossible as it seemed. Many (people with HIV) are even having biological children through in vitro fertilization with either their female partner or with a surrogate,” she said.

She went on to read a letter from a doctor who, along with his partner, was HIV positive but who was able to become a father this way.

Those in attendance then moved to the parking lot where two sky lanterns were launched.

Both lanterns floated quite high and, based on how long onlookers could see their lights, made it at least as far as the middle of the St. Marys River.

The vigil was part of the week-long 2017 Sault Pridefest. A full list festival events can be found here.