World AIDS Day: Renowned Vauxhall LGBT venue to host powerful AIDS night of remembrance
A moving vigil and community-led performances will anchor this year’s World AIDS Day event at the RVT.
Ahead of World AIDS Day, Impulse London will bring the community together for an evening of remembrance and celebration at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Sunday 30 November.
The event, titled We Look Back, We Live On, invites attendees to reflect on the lives lost to AIDS-related illness while recognising the progress made in HIV treatment and prevention over the past four decades.
Hosted inside one of London’s most historic LGBTQ venues, the gathering will focus on healing, unity and the ongoing fight against HIV stigma.
Impulse London, which was founded in 2017, is entirely volunteer-run and focuses on mental health, sexual health, HIV awareness and community support for queer men who participate in chemsex.
Acting President of Impulse London Chris Gunner said: “For World AIDS Day, we want to redefine the narrative around HIV and celebrate the strength and resilience of our amazing community.
“For decades, our community has been unstoppable when we have stood together, and Impulse London remains a proud advocate and ally for our HIV family and friends.”
The night will open with a red light vigil that will give attendees space to reflect and remember friends, family members and community figures impacted by AIDS-related illness and chemsex harm.
The London Gay Men's Chorus will perform during the vigil, offering a musical tribute that anchors the evening in collective memory.
Speeches from people living with HIV and from groups such as Fast Track Cities will spotlight the advancements made in prevention, treatment and community support.
Organisers say they want attendees to leave with a renewed understanding of messages like U=U, which means that people with HIV who have an undetectable viral load cannot pass the virus on to sexual partners.
They also hope to raise awareness of prevention tools like PrEP, which has helped many people make empowered choices about their sexual health.
After the vigil, community artists will take the stage to celebrate the idea that joy is a form of resistance, which is the theme guiding the night.
Impulse London has also partnered with Good Boi Candles to launch a new candle called Redefined, marking the progress in HIV advocacy and the shifting narrative around living well with HIV.
The free tickets are available here, though organisers encourage booking in advance for what promises to be a powerful and hopeful evening.
We Look Back, We Live On: 30th November, 4:30pm, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY.