WORLD AIDS DAY 2024

By Mitch Hipp

December 1, 2024

When yoga found me in 2014, I was working through many past experiences that shaped who I was and the path I was following. Much of my teenage years involved navigating a new reality – the AIDS crisis. At the age of 15, I came out to my parents. Soon after, an article in The New York Times reported “A rare Cancer being found among homosexuals”. It was only a few months after that the AIDS epidemic began to ravage New York.

Week after week, someone you knew died. I feared the touch of other humans. I assumed if I acted on any impulse Id surely die. But, I didn’t think it would take anyone close to me. I was naive. And, soon enough, it did. My best friend John. It was 1991. I was barely 23. I was numb. But it was already a reality of life for so many. Our friends, our lovers and our family. The government scapegoated and demonized us, society alienated and punished us.

Then, a glimmer of hope. By the time the mid 90’s arrived, breakthroughs in treatment, a President with empathy, and a community that fought back from an era of extreme stigma led to a shift from “death sentence” to “maybe I’ll survive”. Flash forward 3 decades: HIV & AIDS, although still a threat, is now manageable, preventable and even survivable. But it took strong leaders, empowered community leaders and the loud voices of the most vulnerable who put themselves on the front line to save us all from the ravages of what is still considered an epidemic worldwide. 

The LGBTQ+ community and our allies are once again in a place of uncertainty. Recent shifts in cultural and political landscapes have many feeling perplexed, distraught, and anxious. Now, perhaps more than ever, we need to look back to see what lessons from the past we can take with us into the future. As a gay man, seeking change, reform, and new horizons, I came to SONICYOGA and was immediately embraced, supported and nourished. As a resident of Hells Kitchen, I take pride in continuing the tradition of our community’s inclusive nature. SONICYOGA’s commitment to supporting all humans in their quest to enlightenment is unwavering. 

At 4pm, Saturday November 30, 2024, I will be accepting donations to benefit GMHC – helping New Yorkers with HIV & AIDS get essential services and healthcare since 1981. I hope you can join me. 

This ones for you, John.