FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Red Ribbon Gala & World AIDS Day Celebration
October 17, 2025
Date Release: 17 October 2025
PRESS RELEASE
Diverse & Resilient Celebrates 3 Decades of Resilience with “The Red Ribbon Gala & World AIDS Day Celebration”
For three decades, Diverse & Resilient (D&R) has stood as a beacon of hope, advocacy, and resilience for Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ community. This year, D&R proudly invites the community to celebrate its 30th anniversary and World AIDS Day at the Red Ribbon Gala — a night dedicated to honoring the lives, legacies, and futures of LGBTQ+ people, particularly those impacted by HIV.
When D&R began in 1995, HIV was devastating communities and impacting too many lives — especially queer and trans people of color. What began as a small, courageous response to the HIV epidemic has grown into one of Wisconsin’s leading LGBTQ+ health and equity organizations. Thirty years later, D&R continues to fight stigma, provide life-saving care, and create spaces where every LGBTQ+ person can live healthy, whole, and proud.
“As we mark 30 years, I think about the people who built this foundation and those who continue to carry it forward. This moment reflects not only how far we have come, but the hope, responsibility, and love that guide us into the future.” said Chris Allen, President & CEO.
The Red Ribbon Gala will feature an evening of storytelling, recognition, and solidarity, including:
- The Red Ribbon Monologues – powerful, lived narratives from those impacted by HIV.
- Community Awards – honoring leaders, allies, and trailblazers advancing health equity.
- Silent Auction – supporting D&R’s HIV prevention, care, and community programs.
Every dollar raised from this event directly supports LGBTQ+ health equity initiatives, ensuring access to testing, care navigation, transportation, basic needs, youth support, anti-violence efforts, and compassionate community support. These resources often mean the difference between isolation and connection — between surviving and thriving.
Event Details:
Date: Monday, December 1, 2025
Location: The Deco, 7140 W Greenfield Ave, West Allis, WI 53214
Doors Open & Cocktail Hour: 4:30 PM
Official Program: 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Reserve your tickets now: https://givebutter.com/DRedRibbonGala
“When we gather on World AIDS Day, we don’t just remember — we recommit.” said Corey Clark, Director of Care Services.
As D&R honors the past 30 years, this gala serves as both reflection and call to action — reminding us that our community’s strength has always come from showing up for one another, even in the face of silence and stigma.
About Diverse & Resilient
Founded in 1995, Diverse & Resilient is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization committed to achieving health equity and racial justice for LGBTQ+ communities. Through programs in HIV prevention and care, anti-violence advocacy, youth leadership, and community health, D&R works to build a future where every LGBTQ+ person lives with dignity, pride, and possibility.
Learn more at www.diverseandresilient.org
For media contact, please reach out to Tou Fong Lee, Director of Program Operations & Compliance at