VIRAL ILLUMINATION 001: SERO PROJECT FUNDRAISER
VIRAL ILLUMINATION 001: SERO PROJECT FUNDRAISER
VIRAL ILLUMINATION 001: SERO PROJECT FUNDRAISER
VIRAL ILLUMINATION 001: SERO PROJECT FUNDRAISER
VIRAL ILLUMINATION 001: SERO PROJECT FUNDRAISER
This campaign is closed
VIRAL ILLUMINATION 001: SERO PROJECT FUNDRAISER
On Wednesday, December 13, we gave birth to a dream that we've been brewing up for the past couple of months called VIRAL ILLUMINATION, a new event concept that aims to amplify the voices of those living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS. Our hope was to extend the conversation and dialogue around HIV/AIDS that tend to only take place every year on World AIDS Day (December 1).
In addition to this we wanted to create a space that provided people with the opportunity to celebrate poz artists and allies working at the intersection of art, culture and activism to create a world that works towards abolishing HIV stigma and builds opportunities for people to learn, empower one another and cultivate joy while raising funds for The Sero Project, a non-profit that is integral to our work and the work of our siblings and lovers.
For one night only, in collaboration with Grindr’s newest publication, INTO, Navel LA and Crystal Head Vodka, we invited over a dozen HIV-positive and HIV-allied artists to participate in an evening of performances, installations, music and more from creators, advocates and disruptors working to destigmatize HIV, uplift pleasure and champion underrepresented narratives.
Through this event, we were able to raise over one thousand dollars for The Sero Project, a network of people with HIV and allies fighting for freedom from stigma and injustice. A majority of their work revolves around ending inappropriate criminalization prosecutions of people living with HIV, including for non-disclosure of their HIV status, potential or perceived HIV exposure or HIV transmission. People with HIV may be prosecuted for not disclosing their HIV statuses to their sexual partners — even if transmission risk was minimal or nonexistent. They often face more severe charges and sentencing for assault, sex work, or other crimes just because they have HIV. Sero’s work includes but is not limited to raising public awareness through community education efforts and outreach to mobilize and advocate for reform by promoting a human rights-based approach to end the HIV epidemic.
Over the next two weeks, we are continuing to raise funds for The Sero Project through this campaign in an attempt to support Sero’s mission towards engaging and empowering those who are most impacted to speak first-hand about the effects of criminalization.
Our hope is that YOU learn more about their efforts and continue to make love go viral by getting more involved with programs like VIRAL ILLUMINATION, grassroots movements like Sero and through the amplification of our POZ brothers and sisters in Los Angeles and beyond. All donations also support extending the life of the installations and artwork developed by LA-based HIV-positive artists, Ben Cuevas, Danimal Oh and Vasilios Papapitsios.
More info about rewards, VIRAL ILLUMINATION 001 and The Sero Project can be found below.
This easy peasy donation level includes a personal thank you card and a digital high-five :)