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Back in April, our
HIV/AIDS community lost one of our most outspoken community
HIV/AIDS activists, Mark Hayes. While Mark’s accomplishments on
a statewide and national level were remarkable and lasting, his
impact on the local level, especially at our Albany Damien
Center, was just as important to him.
Mark and I began our HIV/AIDS activism about the same time, back
in the late nineties following our diagnoses of HIV. For many
years, Wednesdays at the Albany Damien Center was known as
“Housing Works Night”, as Mark would hold a weekly
discussion/education forum for our guests. He not only educated
us on the current legislation and policy initiatives, but he
taught us how to advocate for ourselves and for others
struggling with HIV. His message to us was simple – that our
voice did matter and that we indeed could make a difference on
the local, state, and national level to improve the lives of
people living with HIV/AIDS.
I fondly remember
many conversations over the years I had with Mark on a variety
of AIDS related subjects on the back porch of the Damien
Center. His Wednesday night group fostered many future leaders,
and embodied much of what the Damien Center is about - realizing
that life is indeed still good and that we can (and must) help
each other in order to survive. |
We were both very
outspoken when it came to our advocating, but didn’t always join
in on the methods (I was far to chicken to join him in getting
arrested in demonstrations), but I counted on Mark to keep us
all abreast of the current legislation, trends, and what we
could do to make a difference.
While Mark’s voice
is now silent, mine is not. Yours is not. Please join me in
continuing to advocate—whether it be with your time, voice,
money, or donation of items—to help our HIV/AIDS community in
need.
Mark — I dedicate
this newsletter to you, my friend, and promise, in your memory,
never to be silent! |
