Unheard Voices: From the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic

Today, December 1, marks Worlds AIDS Day. At GLSEN and in my personal life, I am taking a moment to remember the impact HIV/AIDS has on millions of people around the world. We are thankful for the tireless of activists, educators, medical health professionals, policymakers, parents, children and friends.

HIV/AIDS affects people of all ages. UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic found that every hour, 30 children die as a result of AIDS.

Students in schools in the USA live with HIV/AIDS and have family affected by HIV/AIDS. It's my hope that these students will be able to live safe, healthy, full lives. I am thankful for every person working to eradicate new HIV infections and to ensure that those living with HIV have happy and healthy lives.

David Barr was a young man when the first cases of AIDS were diagnosed. While many people he knew were getting sick and dying, Barr began working in the community to fight the epidemic. The work of Barr and his colleagues changed the response to AIDS in the U.S. and galvanized the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

David's story is featured in Unheard Voice, a project by GLSEN, the Anti-Defamation League, and StoryCorps. You can listen to his story or read a transcript by visiting glsen.org/unheardvoices.

Brian Gerald Murphy is the online strategies manager for GLSEN.