Earlier this week, Project Open Hand held an HIV and LGBT Aging Symposium right here in our Grocery Center at 730 Polk Street. The night began with a screening of Last Men Standing, a documentary that features eight Bay Area men who bravely share how the AIDS epidemic affected their youth and the challenges they face now, as aging survivors.
Three men featured in the film joined us in the audience for the evening. From left to right: Jesus, Mick, and Harry (Not pictured: Kevin)
Then, Erin Allday of the San Francisco Chronicle moderated a broader discussion with seven panelists about the challenges that face the HIV and LGBT aging community.
Our panelists included:
- Vince Crisostomo- Program Manager, Elizabeth Taylor 50-PLUS NETWORK
- Meredith Greene, MD- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics UCSF
- Jesus Ramirez-Valles, Ph.D, MPH- Professor and Director, Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois-Chicago
- Kaushik Roy- Executive Director, The Shanti Project
- Supervisor Jeff Sheehy- District 8
- Karyn Skultety, Ph.D- Executive Director, Openhouse
THANK YOU to everyone who joined us to ask questions and share perspectives. Our community is stronger because of you.