World AIDS Day 2025
Monday December 1st
10am-4pm
Free HIV Self-Test Kits and PrEP Resources
Coffee by Design, Diamond St. Portland ME
Come visit us at Coffee By Design for a free HIV self-test kit and safe sex resources, and chat about PrEP!
5:30pm-6:30pm
Candlelight Vigil
Battery operated candles provided as supplies last
In the event of inclement weather the vigil will be held indoors at
Equality Community Center, 15 Casco St. Portland
Friday, December 5th, 6:00pm-7:30pm
AIDS Diva: The Legend of Connie Norman
To be immediately followed by a panel discussion with
Director Dante Alencastre
Portland Museum of Art
"AIDS DIVA: The Legend of Connie Norman” is a documentary film by David Alencastre on the self-appointed “AIDS
DIVA” and masterful spokesperson for ACT UP /Los Angeles in the late 80s and early 90’s Los Angeles. Connie described herself as “ex-drag queen, ex-hooker, ex-IV drug user, ex-high risk youth and current post-operative transsexual woman who is HIV positive” and simply “a human being
seeking my humanity.” Standing confidently in her multiple, fluid and evolving LGBTQ identities, she was often a lone
advocate for the fledgling trans community of that era. Both beloved and confrontative, Connie’s soulful and salty rantings, intersectional politics and humor were heard widely through her local LGBTQ newspaper column ‘Tribal Writes’, and her pioneering cable television and radio shows.
Fueled by the urgency of her mortality and the hard-won honesty and clarity her survival had required, Connie challenged self-hatred, hypocrisy and denial, as she evoked a humanitarian, neighborly, transcendent vision of justice, freedom and love for her tribe and us all.
Thank you to our sponsors and partners for making this possible!
Commemorate and reflect on World AIDS Day with Frannie Peabody Center
World AIDS Day is an important time for our community to come together to honor our friends, family, and loved ones who have passed from HIV/AIDS, but also to support and encourage those who are still living with or impacted by this disease.
Why Do We Wear A Red Ribbon?
Created in 1991 by a group of artists known as "Visual AIDS", the red ribbon was designed to be a powerful visual representation of compassion for people living with HIV and their care givers. We continue to wear this symbol proudly to show solidarity with those living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS, and to commemorate and honor those who have passed. This ribbon has become an international symbol of hope, courage, and empathy as a community, and we proudly wear it to show our dedication to fight for the end of HIV/AIDS. Click here for more information about the Red Ribbon Project.
