Tags: In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re honoring the lives of AANHPI figures from HIV history.
Kiyoshi Kuromiya was a civil rights, gay liberation, anti-war, and HIV/AIDS activist. He worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., helped found the Gay Liberation Front, and led ACT UP in Philadelphia. After being diagnosed with AIDS in 1989, he intensified his activism by improving access to HIV information, creating the Critical Path AIDS Project, and advocating for patients’ rights.
Melenie Eleneke was a Bay Area transgender rights activist, spiritual healer, hula dancer, and HIV advocate. Eleneke worked extensively with the Transgender, Gender-Variant, & Intersex Justice Project, testified before the United Nations, and used her experience as a Native Hawaiian living with HIV to confront stigma in Asian & Pacific Islander communities.
Tina Chow was a supermodel, jewelry designer, fashion collector, and AIDS activist who became an influential figure in the New York art and design scene. After being diagnosed with AIDS in 1989, she became one of the first prominent heterosexual women to publicly disclose her status and dedicated herself to AIDS advocacy until her passing.
Tseng Kwong Chi was a photographer and performer best known for his East Meets West series. He documented New York’s 1980s art and club scene and served as Keith Haring’s official chronicler before his passing.
At Face to Face, we are committed to honoring the legacy of those we’ve lost by doing the work that saves lives today. That means providing access to free HIV testing, prevention tools, and support.
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