“Creating an AIDS-free generation is a shared responsibility. It requires commitment from partner countries, coupled with support from donors, civil society, people living with HIV, faith-based organizations, the private sector, foundations, and multilateral institutions. We stand at a tipping point in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and working together, we can realize our historic opportunity to bring that fight to an end.”

- President Barack Obama

In the 40 years since the pandemic began more than 700,000 people have died from AIDS-related illnesses in the United States alone.

“It was gentle rain, no speeches or music, just thousands of people reading these names on this patchwork of placards up on that wall. And I thought to myself, It looks like some kind of quilt,’ and when I said the word "quilt" I thought of my great-grandma...  it was such a warm and comforting and middle-American traditional-family-values sort of symbol, and I thought, ‘This is the symbol we should take.’”

- Cleve Jones, NPR interview 2016

Black/African American and Hispanics/Latinos account for the
‍largest increases in new HIV diagnoses, 42% and 27% respectively.

“… may we find strength and comfort in our communities, and in our shared desire to bring hope and healing to the millions of men, women and children around the world living with HIV/AIDS.  This disease is resilient and resourceful, ever mutating to escape destruction.  We must be equally resourceful in our efforts to combat HIV/AIDS as we work to finally achieve an AIDS-free generation.”

- Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, World AIDS Day 2019