WORLD AIDS DAY on December 1st is so much more than just remembering all our loved ones that we lost in the pandemic, but also celebrating the lives of all those who survived.  To this end the GLBT Historical Society’s Museum and Archives are presenting a powerful photography exhibition called Focus on Living: Portraits of Americans with HIV and AIDS.

Its the work of photographer Roslyn Banish and will feature 16 portraits from Banish’s larger project, Focus on Living and includes 40 photographs paired with first-person testimonies.  The people she photographed—young and old, gay, straight, bisexual, and transgender—come from diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. The portraits and interviews reveal the universal truth that HIV knows no boundaries, impacting people across all walks of life.

From 1997 to 2002, Banish interviewed and photographed Americans living with HIV or AIDS, capturing their stories of survival, resilience, and transformation. Her work transcends statistics to reveal the human experience of the epidemic, emphasizing themes of stigma, community, and advocacy.

GLBT Historical Society Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana told QUEERGURU “Roslyn Banish’s unadorned portraits provide a window into the day-to-day struggles and triumphs of people living with HIV.  This exhibition reminds us of the enduring impact of the epidemic and the importance of preserving and sharing these personal stories as part of LGBTQ history.”