Cunningham reflected on the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic, particularly in its early years. "It was the gay community, the LGBT community, that had to seek and find solutions when the government wasn't coming. Stigma ruled, and so the community rose up to address the tragedy."
The names etched into the memorial are more than just letters, Cunningham emphasized, describing them as symbols of the many lives lost. He pointed to specific memorials, such as a boulder dedicated to his friend Shaw Coté, whose ashes rest at the site.
Cunningham highlighted the progress made, with fewer than 200 new infections recorded this year. However, he stressed that the work is far from over. "We need to continue the fight for those in need, just as we have done over the years."
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