Big crowd marks World AIDS Day in Golden Gate Park

More than 600 gathered to heal broken hearts and to urge against complacency in the ongoing fight against HIV and AIDS on Sunday, at the 20th observance of World AIDS Day at Golden Gate Park.

Among them was Mike Smith, the executive director of the AIDS Emergency Fund and co-founder of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, who comes every year to remember the friends whose names are engraved in the Circle of Friends monument in the park's National AIDS Memorial Grove.

The memorial contains names of those who have died of the disease, as well as those who have dedicated their careers to fighting AIDS or have made financial donations to the grove.

Many who came Sunday had names of lovers, co-workers and friends etched in stone. Famous donors also appear: Robin Williams, Sharon Stone, Calvin Klein.

"It's important to come each year and reflect," Smith said.

The emergency fund he directs helps 2,000 San Franciscans living with HIV/AIDS stay out of poverty by assisting them with rent, utility bills and groceries.

"Too many young people today think HIV is an old man's disease," he said. "What they don't understand is that the drugs have terrible side effects. Most of the people I know who are now dying are of cancers at a premature age."

Just managing their health care keeps many in poverty, he said.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Big-crowd-marks-World-AIDS-Day-in-Golden-Gate-Park-5026213.php