Gay Place

CANDLES IN THE WIND Match strike. Spark. Ignition. Flame. We are, each of us, the source of light in any darkness we wish to illuminate. We are the fire that can catch, blaze, and with focused and earnest intention, clear through any obstacle. Together, we are a house afire. Together: We Are the Solution is the theme at this year's AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service (www.candlelightmemorial.org) to honor those we have lost and those who struggle with HIV/AIDS (www.cdc.gov/hiv). Current global pandemic scares notwithstanding, sometimes it feels we have forgotten the impact of HIV/AIDS on our community and have lost some of the compassion that pulled us together to collaborate and fight when things seemed darkest. HIV/AIDS may have migrated to impact "other" populations, but "other" is a myth. We are all still affected. Ironic that the solution, too, is viral. We. Together. Lots of matches. Lots of fire. Come out to Republic Square Park this Sunday at 7:30pm. As the memorial hits its peak, the sun will set at 8:19pm, intensifying the light of each candle, creating one burning light. Bring your own candle, babies. Match strike. Spark. Ignition. Flame. (See Sunday's Community Listings.)