September is not just a month of observance. It is a season of reckoning. It asks us to pause, to remember, and to recommit. It calls us to honor the truth of those who have lived through stigma, to affirm the dignity of those whose identities have been erased and to recognize the legacy of those who continue to lead with courage and care. These observances are not isolated moments. They are part of a shared commitment to ethical visibility and collective liberation.
National HIV and AIDS Aging Awareness Day is on September 18, and reminds us that aging with HIV is not simply a medical milestone. It is a living legacy. Our elders are not just survivors. They are witnesses to decades of injustice and resilience. Their lives carry the truth of communities that refused to be erased. Their dignity must be honored not only in memory, but in policy, in care, and in everyday respect.
Among those leading this charge is Paul Aguilar, a long-term survivor and advocate whose work with NMAC’s HIV 50 Plus Strong and Healthy Cohort centers the voices of older adults living with HIV. Paul’s leadership bridges clinical insight and community care, reminding us that survival is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a deeper responsibility to listen, to learn, and to act.
Bisexuality Visibility Day is celebrated on the 23rd of September every year. They live at the intersection of visibility and invisibility. Their truth challenges rigid categories. Their dignity affirms that liberation is not linear. It is expansive, fluid, and deeply personal.
Dr. Mimi Hoang, a psychologist and co-founder of the Los Angeles Bi Plus Task Force, has spent decades advocating for bisexual plus visibility, mental health, and cultural inclusion. Her work affirms that bisexual plus identities are not transitional. They are whole, valid, and powerful. To honor bisexual plus communities is to confront the ways our movements have failed them, and to commit to language, care, and advocacy that reflects the full spectrum of human experience.
National Gay Men's HIV and AIDS Awareness Day celebrated on September 27 and calls us to confront the ongoing disparities faced by gay men, especially those who are Black, Brown, or living in poverty. These men continue to lead, to love, and to demand justice in the face of systems that have failed them. Their truth is not defined by statistics. Their dignity is not negotiable. Their legacy is one of resistance and renewal.
Dr. Travis Gayles, Chief Executive Officer of Howard Brown Health, brings public health expertise and lived experience as a Black gay man to one of the nation’s most influential LGBTQ health organizations. His leadership reflects a commitment to equity, truth, and community-rooted care.
We honor those aging with HIV. We affirm bisexual plus identities. We amplify the voices of gay men who continue to shape the future of care and advocacy. These are not separate stories. They are a collective call to truth, dignity and legacy.
Von Biggs serves as Community Engagement & Outreach with Community Health & Well Being at Holy Cross Health. A nationally recognized HIV Health Leader and Equity Advocate, Von bridges public health, ethical leadership, and community storytelling to advance justice and visibility. His work centers dignity, truth, and collective liberation, amplifying the voices of those aging with HIV and other chronic conditions, affirming erased identities and confronting systemic disparities with compassion and precision.