HEINZESIGHT: Remembering A Forgotten Memorial to HIV and AIDS

I remember a morning assembly at my middle school in 1986 where all of the students were rounded up to watch an educational film about an extremely concerning disease that was killing people at an alarming rate and there was little doctors could do to prevent it. It was a horrific collection of images showing people ravaged by HIV and dying of AIDS. I had never been so terrified by anything in my life. A little part of my innocence died that day. Growing up knowing I was gay and this horrible disease was killing off people like me threw me deeper into feelings of fear and shame about being gay and becoming sexual with anyone. It led me into being even more withdrawn and scared.

I was unaware at that time there were people in our country actively dealing with this disastrous situation. Groups of individuals mobilized to support and take care of those struggling with the virus, brought awareness to the importance of knowledge about how the virus was transmitted, and fought for funding to support research and medication treatment so people had a better chance to live their lives in spite of HIV. I witnessed the devastation from afar, but I kept up on news stories and had opportunities to get to know some of the people involved. Years later, I became part of a worldwide community working to educate people about HIV and empower individuals to embrace their sexual health. We’ve made significant progress, but it is important to focus on how issues continue affecting our culture and remember the progression of how we have engaged this virus over the past 35 years.

Communities in places like San Francisco have been some of the most highly impacted by HIV and AIDS. I’ve spent significant time in that amazing city and have visited the National AIDS Grove in Golden Gate Park many times. There have been instances of visiting there with friends to reflect on how HIV has impacted us and to remember friends who have passed as a result of the virus or those who are currently living with HIV. Other times have been in celebration of being alive, surrounded by loving people enjoying music, dancing, flagging, flirting, and hanging out. Alongside the natural beauty of the park, the area also serves as a reminder of something that has devastated our community.

Although I had been working in gay men’s health and HIV for many years, I had no idea that Colorado had also created an area as a memorial for those affected by HIV. After learning about its location, I rode my bike down there with one of my best friends to show him this forgotten space. I was excited to share the story about how a determined group of Colorado residents championed an initiative to designate part of Commons Park as “The Grove” to serve as Colorado’s AIDS Memorial. This rustic space across from REI in downtown Denver was dedicated in August 2000. The project took over seven years, thousands of fundraising dollars, and hundreds of volunteer staff hours to complete with no one knowing that this location would evolve into such a bustling area for
urban living.

The Grove’s original design of a few benches paired with cottonwood trees and natural ground covering includes its heart-felt purpose inscribed on the stone at the park’s entrance which states, “This area of Commons Park is dedicated to the remembrance of those who have lost their lives to AIDS and to their loving caregivers who helped them live out those lives with dignity and grace.” Unfortunately as HIV treatments became more effective and the virus became less sensationalized in the media, so did the visibility of The Grove.

It wasn’t until a motivated group of community members and organizations were reminded of this important space in the fall of 2015 that efforts began to bring awareness back about The Grove. A re-dedication of this space is scheduled for Sunday, May 15th from 2–4pm with support of Denver’s Parks & Recreation Department, Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, Mile High Freedom Band, Team Colorado from AIDS LifeCycle, and many others from our community. The ceremony will be a mix of speakers and activities intended to bring a revitalized energy back into this memorial that many fought diligently for in the past.

The Grove, like other memorials, can mean different things to a wide variety of people. Colorado’s AIDS Memorial is a space to not only remember and recognize those who have lost their lives to this virus and the people who offered care for them, but also as an area for people to explore their own thoughts and feelings about how HIV impacted in their lives. This is a space for those who have been diagnosed as HIV+ for 30 years or only three months. It’s for those who may be HIV-, but feel the importance of sharing thoughts, feelings, and memories of those who have come before them or to support other people in their lives who are living with HIV. It can also be in remembrance of pioneers who led valiant fights to motivate government and industry in making HIV a global priority. It can also give hope to those working diligently to create a world that is not impacted by HIV.

There are many current and future opportunities to get involved with The Grove, including planting, clean-up projects, hosting events, fundraising, and bringing awareness to this unique piece of Colorado history. The physical address for The Grove is 2101 15th Street in Denver and more information can be found at AIDSgroveColorado.org or Facebook. Join us to take part in the re-dedication on Sunday, May 15th from 2–4 pm.