Walk urges support for people with HIV/AIDS

By Barbara Soderlin, Journal staff | Saturday, September 13, 2008

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The second annual HIV/AIDS walk brought about 50 people out to Memorial Park on a blustery Saturday afternoon to support programs for people who are HIV-positive and social equality for gays.

The theme of the walk was "HIV/AIDS does not discriminate," and speaker Kimberly Henderson said she still hears AIDS referred to as "the gay plague," although only about a third of HIV-positive South Dakotans contracted the virus through gay sex.

"People from all walks of life get HIV/AIDS," said Henderson, a candidate for the state House of Representatives. "There is still a lot of hatred. There is still a lot of misunderstanding."

Politicians, members of the gay community and about two dozen young adults from the Job Corps program mingled at opening ceremonies that included music, a raffle and speeches.

Brent Cox, a dorm manager at Boxelder Job Corps in Nemo, said he brought the group out to support the event and because a lot of students are interested in the cause.

"I came because of the gay pride thing," said 17-year-old Kylie Harmon of Rapid City, who said she has a gay friend.

Mike Hernandez, 20, urged people to take advantage of free HIV testing.

"It's best people get tested as early as possible," he said.

Lori Simpson of Rapid City, a volunteer with the Matthew Shepard Foundation, brought her son, who was wearing an "erase hate" T-shirt.

"It's generally felt that South Dakota is a state that could still use some work," Simpson said.

Patrick Simmons of Rapid City worked the sign-up stand. He said he lost a partner to AIDS before there was medical treatment or hospice care available that is common today. He urged people to support programs that help people with HIV and AIDS, like the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

"We have advanced, but it still doesn't stop the dying," Simmons said. He said people who want to get involved should contact the Black Hills Center for Equality. "I think they should come down and meet us. Let us know who they are, and find out who we are."

How to help:

To support the Black Hills Center for Equality, at 1102 W. Rapid St., call 348-3244. Formerly called The Center West, the agency provides support for people who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

There are meetings at 5 p.m. every Wednesday to organize events and projects.

The center has a new home and is in need of office furniture, including desks, chairs and a conference table, lounge seating -- including a couch, loveseat and armchairs -- a TV, VCR and DVD player, computers,  banquet tables, card tables and artificial trees or flowers.

For more, go to www.southdakotapride.com.