Stride Past Stigma: AIDS Walk New York in Photos!

In a beautiful day of celebration and remembrance, over 9,000 people joyfully came together for AIDS Walk New York in Central Park on May 19. 

Together, we raised $1,872,909 to support GMHC’s lifesaving services for thousands of New Yorkers living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. And together, we showed we can “Stride Past Stigma” in the ongoing fight against HIV and AIDS. We appreciate everyone who made the day such a resounding success! 

“During these challenging times, we are inspired by the thousands of caring people who joined the 39th annual AIDS Walk New York. It was a powerful demonstration of forward-moving action, as we stride toward a future free from HIV and AIDS stigma and the barriers it raises to HIV testing, treatment and care services,” said GMHC’s Chief Operating Officer Kishani Moreno. 

Moreno added that in New York City there are over 132,000 people living with HIV. “The HIV epidemic is not over. We’re going to be in the fight until it is,” she said. 

Our AIDS Walk New York fundraising is critical this year, because NYC budget cuts threaten nearly $1.1 million in funding for three key GMHC programs serving people living with HIV and AIDS. The proposed cuts would eliminate our Undetectables, HIV Prevention and Literacy: Older Adults (HLA), and RISE Workforce Development programs, which empower people diagnosed with HIV to live healthy, full lives. 

Cutting these programs would undermine the city’s plan to end the HIV epidemic. And now that New York City is projecting a $3.3 billion surplus for FY25, there is simply no need. 

Please help us restore these cuts by contacting your NYC Council Member via our quick email tool: gmhc.org/actnow. It is still possible to contribute to AIDS Walk New York at aidswalkny.org, or by texting “aidswalkny” to 325–603–3395. 

We appreciate the many caring and committed teams from all over New York who made this year’s AIDS Walk New York such a success — and the roughly 400 volunteers who helped in Central Park. GMHC provided free HIV testing throughout the day! 

The top five fundraising teams were: Francine’s Team – A Promise to a Friend; The Church of St. Mary the Virgin; Gift for Life/NY NOW; The Salty Bitches; and GMHC Smooth Operators. Our top individual fundraisers were: Francine Goldstein, Donna Gins, Matthew Katzenson, James Matte, and Mark Milstein. 

CBS 2 New York’s Jessi Mitchell and actor Wilson Cruz ably emceed the Opening Ceremony at the Naumburg Bandshell. A moving performance from the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus kicked things off. That was followed by cameos from Broadway stars Melody A. Betts (The Wiz), Kecia Lewis (Hell’s Kitchen) – and RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Q, who braved stigma to publicly share their own HIV diagnosis on the show’s 16th season. GMHC co-founder Dr. Larry Mass closed the ceremony by celebrating the “hope, courage, and spirit” of our community and exhorting us to “stride on.” 

We thank all the elected officials who attended: New York State Assemblymember Tony Simone, NYC Councilmembers Gale Brewer and Erik Bottcher, and Frank Julca, community liaison for NYC Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams. 

The sun came out to shine on our runners and walkers along the four-mile route through Central Park. Afterwards, participants celebrated with a rousing Paradise Garage Dance Party and a vogue performance by the Iconic House of Miyake Mugler. 

GMHC gives special thanks to our media sponsor, CBS 2 New York, for its incredible livestream coverage of the Opening Ceremony and the insightful, inspiring interviews of GMHC staff and performers from Jessi Mitchell, Cindy Hsu, and Tony Sadiku. 

We are grateful to the many generous corporate sponsors who support AIDS Walk New York: Presenting Sponsor ViiV Healthcare; Premier Sponsor Gilead Sciences; Grand Sponsors Captivate and Mesmerize; Principal Sponsors 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Druckenmiller Foundation, and The Keith Haring Foundation Inc.; Major Sponsors Avita Pharmacy, Q Care Plus, and Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation; Supporting Sponsors CVS Specialty, New York-Presbyterian, Paramount, Paul Weiss, PwC, TD Bank, and The Morrison Foerster Foundation.

We also thank our Event Sponsors: Amida Care, Anthem, Celsius, Healthfirst, Oaktree, PepsiCo, Rita Fischer Estate, Ropes & Gray, Standard Chartered, Steinway & Sons, Steve Tipton & Patrick Hinds, and Williams-Sonoma Inc. 

We’ll see you in Central Park next year!