The running of the annual Candlelight Memorial services has been handed over to HIV support and advocacy organisation Body Positive after being organised for several decades by the NZ AIDS Foundation. Body Positive, the country's largest HIV positive people's organisation, says it has lobbied for several years to run the services which commemorate the hundreds of New Zealanders, almost all of whom were gay men, who have died as casualties of the HIV epidemic. "The NZAF has acknowledged that organising the commemoration sits better with the organisations representing people living with HIV and AIDS," says Body Positive's General Manager Bruce Kilmister. Kilmister says BP has already approached other HIV support groups under the umbrella of the National Collective of People Living with HIV, and they are joining in the planning and running of the event which will be held this year on May 20th. So far services have been confirmed for Whangarei, Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. Details of the individual services are expected to be released soon. The international theme for this year's Candlelight Memorial services is: "Promoting Health and Dignity Together."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 19th April 2012 - 6:47pm