Inner-city church St Matthew-in-the-City was at capacity for Auckland’s AIDS Candlelight Memorial service last night. Mark Fisher from Body Positive Body Positive’s Mark Fisher said the memorial was a time of reflection on the past, and a time to remember HIV is still out there in the community. “We’re now in a really good place but it is not the time to become complacent,” he said, explaining stigma and discrimination are still present from both within and outside our community. Fisher said some people still contact him worried they can contract HIV from kissing someone, while others don’t like to have food prepared by HIV positive people, or want to live with them. “My request to you is to be informed and spread that knowledge.” Fisher also mentioned two current court cases around transmission, and the precedents they could set. He said the challenge in criminalising HIV is that it makes people not wanted to get tested, or have sex. “We need to assist people to deal with disclosure so they can have healthy, loving sex lives.” New Zealand AIDS Foundation boss Shaun Robinson looked to the past, saying three decades ago we had a time of “deep sadness” where there was very little people could do except stand beside those who were dying and hold their hands. He said 30 years on, deaths as a result of AIDS are very rare in New Zealand, but do happen. “Despite the advances and despite the fact we live in a wealthy country with a first-world health system, it’s really important to remember that it’s not only an issue of the past but an issue of the present.” Robinson said we need to honour the memories of those who have died by continuing to make progress, and to learn lessons from the past 30 years. “Every year in New Zealand perhaps 150 people contract HIV, and that doesn’t need to happen.” He said those living with the virus still face discrimination, every day. “So as we remember those that have gone before, it’s also important to remember what we need to do today to prevent the spread of HIV and to support those people that are living with the virus.” MC Steven Oates said the large turnout was a sign of the support for people with HIV, showing them they are not alone. He urged people to go away and reach out to others personally, beyond social media, and set the challenge of an even bigger attendance in 2016.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 18th May 2015 - 9:41am