Since 1988, every December 1, people the world over commemorate World AIDS Day, a day of somber reflection on the fight against HIV/AIDS and to remember the millions of lives that have already been lost to the disease.
This year, celebrities from the world over made their voices heard thanks to social media, sending out messages of support for those still living with the disease, remembrance for their friends and loved ones who had already died, and anger over the still-inflated price of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the existing social stigma that exists for those living with HIV.
Pop icon Madonna, who has spent much of her career advocating for those afflicted by HIV/AIDS, took a moment on her social media to remember those who she has personally lost to the disease. Troye Sivan took a different approach, reflecting on the progress that has been made and looking forward to the advancements to come.
Check out a few celebrities who honored World AIDS Day below:
On World AIDS Day—— Iwant to Acknowledge some of my dearest friends ♥?who were lost to a disease That no one understood nor could the medicine be found to keep the disease from being fatal.
There are so many others………….https://t.co/FyR6FnERjV pic.twitter.com/YqKV1ZZkHJ— Madonna (@Madonna) December 2, 2019
want to take a moment to honour World AIDS Day. I’m so thankful for the work of all those before me, and proud of my young queer fam for changing how we talk and think about those living with HIV/AIDS.
— troye (@troyesivan) December 1, 2019
Today is World AIDS Day. A timely reminder that HIV/AIDS isn’t just a sexual issue, it’s a political issue, a racial issue, a gender issue. pic.twitter.com/4CoqagDoJC
— ?????? —- (@MunroeBergdorf) December 1, 2019
Today on #WorldAIDSDay we remember Freddie Mercury — In A Life, In His Own Words which is now available at https://t.co/LeeThjS1mh —https://t.co/LY5m29uc0N pic.twitter.com/6uUGHAXEJO
— Freddie Mercury (@freddie_mercury) December 1, 2019
It’s important this World AIDS Day, for our community to stand together to continue awareness. HIV is a battle that goes beyond the infection — we need to fight stigma by changing perception. We can help end AIDS, together.#HSCUnderMySkin#WorldAIDSDay2019 pic.twitter.com/Ybgy9RbcYb
— Manila Luzon (@manilaluzon) December 1, 2019
It’s World AIDS day today. I’m going outside to howl as loud as I can. ♥? Love and compassion will not die.
— Neko Case (@NekoCase) December 1, 2019
This #WorldAIDSDay I want to acknowledge my sexy vibrant awesome positive friends who thrive. I want to push back at the bullshit of stigma. It’s a useless false fear standing in the way of a cure. There is no shame in being HIV positive. Got it? NOW GO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) December 1, 2019
On this World AIDS day, let us honor and recognize the activists who stood up bravely, even at a time when society feared, hated and shunned those afflicted by HIV and AIDS. Without their courage and their persistence, so many more millions of lives would have been lost.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 1, 2019
Today on World AIDS Day, I thank God for allowing me to be here and send prayers and comfort to the family and loved ones of those who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. We should all be respectful of those living with HIV/AIDS and treat everyone with kindness.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) December 2, 2019
Today, World AIDS Day, a day of remembrance for all the extraordinary people we lost and those who are still living with HIV/AIDS around the world
It’s not over#findacure— JudithLight (@JudithLight) December 1, 2019
12 years ago, I founded @CTAOP to invest in African youth and help them keep themselves safe from HIV/AIDS. Today, on #WorldAIDSDay, the fight is still as strong as ever and we must not turn our backs on the 38 million people who are living with the virus.
— Charlize Theron (@CharlizeAfrica) December 1, 2019
As we enter our fourth decade of AIDS activism, we’re letting you know that the work to end HIV is far from over. Check out our 20/20 vision playbook for ending the epidemic. #WorldAIDSDay https://t.co/cberBidNhP
— ACT UP NY (@actupny) December 1, 2019