June 18th 2006 marks the 25th year since AIDS was first identified. The "official" date for the beginning of the AIDS epidemic is usually marked as June 18, 1981, when the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that unusual clusters of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia had been discovered in gay men in Los Angeles.

Tommi Avicolli Mecca writes:
This anniversary should be a time to reflect on where we’ve come from and where we still need to go. A time to admit that as a City we have failed in providing adequate affordable housing for people with AIDS. A time to say that it’s unacceptable that PWAs live in poverty while other members of our community wallow in wealth and privilege. A time to commit ourselves to ending poverty and economic inequities for all people. A time to honor the thousands of brave activists who took to the streets in the 80s to fight against the all-pervasive uncaring attitude of our homo-hating culture. The millions whose Herculean efforts gave us safe sex guidelines, medical marijuana, HOPWA vouchers, AIDS hospices, the American with Disabilities Act, etc. A time to remember the AIDS tent city that stood for years at U.N. Plaza right here in SF. Where is the tribute to all of that?

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