Charles King will never let us forget. For the President and CEO, the annual Housing Works tradition of reading the names of people who have died of complications from AIDS is still an important political act. As a part of the newly launched World AIDS Day Online Memorial, King himself made a video. Rather than focusing on policy, or railing against the inaction by government leadership, he talks about the loss of his partner and Housing Works co-founder, Keith Cylar, and how his anger spurs him to action.

“We can’t afford to keep quiet when people die of AIDS, or to call it something else,” said King. “In the end, it is that silence that allows the stigma to continue. And as long as there’s stigma, people won’t get tested, they won’t get the care they need if the have HIV.”

This year, Housing Works is commemorating 30 years of AIDS by inviting others to end the stigma. Instead of just reading the names of people who have died of AIDS at a public event, we’ve created the World AIDS Day Online Memorial, inviting anyone with a computer and a camera to upload their own testimonial.

“It makes me angry that 30 years later, people are still afraid to admit a family member, spouse, or parent died of AIDS,” said King. “I hope this memorials brings all of us who have lost loved ones out of the closet and into the fight to end the epidemic.”

To watch King’s video and others, or to make your own video, please visit our World AIDS Day Online Memorial.

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OUR MISSION Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.

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