AIDS Day in Tyler
Tylerites Brave The Cold To Promote AIDS Awareness
Fourth in a four-part series.
By COSHANDRA DILLARD/STAFF WRITER
Although they came out in small groups, Tylerites commemorated World AIDS Day through a series of programs. Community members proudly displayed little red ribbons on their lapels or wore red clothing to show solidarity to HIV/AIDS patients. They braved the cold outside the Tyler AIDS Services early Tuesday as they heard the reading of a proclamation from Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass, announcing Dec. 1, 2009, as World AIDS Day in Tyler. Before releasing several dozen red balloons - symbolizing hope amid despair - people in attendance reflected on the reason they showed up to support those who are living with HIV or AIDS and those who have lost the battle with the disease.
"The focus is on education and prevention," said Jeanette Deas Calhoun, executive director of TAS. "We want to stem the tide of the development of this virus." Representatives of various organizations also showed support for the cause. Expecting a bigger crowd, some pointed out the need to wake up the community about a chronic illness that is lurking in East Texas. "As a nurse, it’s your obligation to educate the community," said Lisa Williams with the Greater East Texas Black Nurses Association. "It’s not being said loud enough. We talk about cancer and every other illness. We need to conquer this."
Smith County Commissioner JoAnn Hampton said myths associated with HIV/AIDS must be dispelled. Education is the key to prevention," she said. "If we become more educated, then we can protect ourselves. I don’t think people fully understand what HIV is and how you get it. Overall, we fail to protect ourselves." HIV is contracted through sexual intercourse or sharing infected needles, and it can be passed to a baby from a mother.
Later in the evening, a crowd of about 50 gathered at the First Presbyterian Church for a program in the church’s chapel. It featured entertainment by Otis Webster and George Faber and then TAG sextet. The audience also heard remarks by Dr. Stuart Baskin and Tyler AIDS pioneer Father Tom Jackson. The audience sang songs in unison, greeted each other in fellowship and blessed each other with a prayer. Robert Carnes, TAS board chairman, said advocates are slowly changing the focus of World AIDS Day events in Tyler.
"Traditionally, it commemorates the people who have died from the virus," he said. "I think we are trying to turn that around to make it about the lives we are trying to save through education and care." After the service, people headed for the door for a candlelight walk to Bergfeld Park. Despite the cool rain, walkers lit up the night with glowing candles surrounded by a red aura. To the walkers, it was worth getting wet if it meant sending a message of hope to the rest of the community.
"We all live with AIDS. But we don’t like to talk about it," said Troy Carlyle, board chairman of Total HealthCare Center. "If you are in silence, you end up in a place like East Texas that has one of the highest rates of HIV in the state. The answer is love, understanding and a willingness to talk about it within our families."
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