This World AIDS Day, remember the words of Sheryl Lee Ralph.
The Emmy-winning star of Abbott Elementary recently received an award at the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS. And at the West Hollywood fundraising gala, the actress used her voice to warn of the high price of silence about the AIDS epidemic.
“The truths are not easy, and 40 years later people want to act like it didn’t happen, but it did happen. It was horrible. It was ugly, and it was America,” she said at the podium. “And it spread to the rest of the world. And when you used your voice to speak up, people wanted to tell you, ‘You need to shut up.’”
She added, “Because some people did not use their voice, did not speak up, were silent, it has become, and still is, horrible for all of us. Forty years later, AIDS in America is still here. Raise your voice, do the work, decriminalize it, and open up your heart and your minds to people who do not look like you.”
This year, Charlize Theron and Colin Farrell were also the recipients of the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award for their work to battle the epidemic. The awards were presented by Daniel O’Day, chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Gilead and Bvlgari served as sponsors of the gala, and celebrities like Jennifer Tilly, Paris Jackson, Alexandra Shipp, Rob Raco, Abbott Elementary’s Lisa Ann Walter, and Evan Ross were in attendance. Motown legend Thelma Houston performed.
Ralph, a longtime actress who was one of Broadway’s original Dreamgirls, has worked for decades to ensure resources for people living with HIV. Fresh off her Emmy win, she attended the ceremony with her son and daughter-in-law. Check out images from the event and learn more about the mission of the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which provides direct services for those living with HIV, at ETAF.org.
JOSHUAN APONTE
Puerto Rican fashion designer Joshuan Aponte has been making a huge name for himself in recent years after creating beautiful costumes worn by queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race and designing clothes for pop stars. Namely, Aponte created the main look for Cardi B’s “Hot Shit” music video, has dressed Lizzo for live performances, and made costumes for Megan Thee Stallion’s virtual reality concert tour.
Within the universe, Aponte has collaborated with legendary drag performers like Shea Couleé, Jaida Essence Hall, Monét X Change, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Alyssa Edwards, Heidi N. Closet, Kahmora Hall, and A’keria Chanel Davenport, among others. Outside of his work as a designer, Aponte has a drag persona, Sheeza Woman
