LOS ANGELES – Over the past 35 years, APLA Health, one of the largest non-profit HIV health services, has grown to be an essential part of L.A.’s LGBTQ community and the organization's annual AIDS Walk continues to be a beacon of hope for those living with HIV. 

APLA was originally founded to disseminate comprehensive information about the AIDS epidemic at a time when there was very little real information and a lot of misinformation and fear. APLA CEO Craig E. Thompson, who has been living with HIV for 35 years, joined the organization in 1997.

RELATED | Community Restoring 80s AIDS Memorial Mural

“It was a really complicated time for me,” explained Thompson, “because the same week that I found out I had HIV, I found out I had been accepted to business school, and in 1985, finding out you had HIV was basically a death sentence. I lost nine close friends in the course of about three-and-a-half years.”

APLA Health’s model of care has adapted over the years to reflect the great strides in HIV education and treatment.

“We’ve changed really from a ‘death and dying model’ to living as healthy lives as possible,” said Thompson.

One of APLA’s clients, Jodee Fauxe, was diagnosed with HIV in 2017. She moved to L.A. from Barstow where she says trans wellness and HIV services were difficult to find.

“I just fell out on the exam table, crying and miserable,” said Fauxe. “I really thought that this was the end.” 

Fauxe says today APLA Health is her one-stop shop for trans wellness, HIV, and mental health care.

“I'm not scared anymore,” she said. “Now that I have knowledge about what to expect things are a lot better.”

Over the years, the annual APLA AIDS Walk has brought in over $88 million. It is a vital part of helping provide HIV services to over 60,000 Angelenos. Fauxe says she is looking forward to joining the tens of thousands of walkers for her first walk this October. 

Thompson says where the walk used to be more somber and mournful, it's now celebratory and hopeful. 

“The walk is now about reinforcing discussions about ending HIV in America,” said Thompson. “We still have to fight very hard for federal funding to continue to provide support and care to everyone who needs it.”

And as long as there is that need, Los Angeles will continue to walk.

For more info, visit: aplahealth.org