THORA FLETCHER World AIDS Day speaker
By Cory Gaudaur
Western Sun associate editor
Students gathered on Thursday, Dec. 1 in the Student Center to celebrate World AIDS Day and to show support for those who have passed on and those still struggling with HIV and AIDS.
“We are here this evening to celebrate the gift of life, and life is a beautiful gift,” said Associated Students of GWC President Dale Lendrum, to kick off the event.
Members of G.L.A.S.A., Golden West College’s Gay Lesbian Alternative Straight Alliance Club, showed support by putting on a drag show in which performances modeled after pop icons such as Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Shania Twain were given. GWC students also participated in a fashion show featuring the designs of student Mellani Needles. In response to the upbeat and flashy fashion show Lendrum said, “I’ve got just one word for that: saucy.”
Thora Fletcher, a guest speaker at the event from the Positive Speaking Program, has devoted her life to raising public awareness regarding HIV and AIDS after discovering that her best friend had been diagnosed with HIV nearly 20 years ago.
Fletcher gave a thoughtful presentation aimed at opening the eyes of college students to the life threatening disease. “HIV does not discriminate,” said Fletcher, “It’s not who you are, it’s what you do.”
The evening concluded with a candlelight vigil, led by Lendrum and other members of the ASGWC Student Council, to pay respects to those who have passed on and to pray for those who are still suffering from the disease.
