...accepting attending to the threat of HIV. Through the years, our mailing list has grown from 200 Bay Area women to 12,000 readers in 85 countries, yet we need to reach more. Every day, another 8,000 women get infected with HIV. So on May 9, we came together to commemorate WORLD's anniversary, to grieve our losses, to recommit ourselves to the work ahead, and to celebrate the women of WORLD.

I never would have thought that this year's dinner and fashion show could live up to the strength and determination the women demonstrated last year, but it did. Too often our loved ones only hear about AIDS as a stigmatizing fatal illness. They need to know you can live with HIV, so they can support us in our struggles to live positively. Most of our doctors, nurses or social workers only get to see us when we have a "problem" that needs "fixing". If only they could see us at our best, they might be inspired to know that their support has made a difference. Too often funders have to rely on numbers to know if they've made a difference. Well, this year's event showed them that having a community does make a difference.

Studies show that women's fashion magazines make women depressed. So why would WORLD put on a fashion show? Because when women use a fashion show to demonstrate pride in their cultural heritage, to delight in their children, to take pride in their bodies (of all shapes and sizes), and to inspire others to pursue their dreams...well, it's different. No longer hiding in shame, the women who took part in this year's show took back the power and pride HIV stole from them. They shed fear (and a few other things) and claimed hope instead. They amazed the crowd, and a few even amazed themselves.

Positive women from as far away as Uganda have asked about WORLD's fashion shows, curious whether they could/should try such as event to raise awareness and...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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