Lansing - Robert Anselmo didn’t know for 13 years that he was HIV positive.
Since being diagnosed with the disease in July 1998, Anselmo said there is not a day he looks in the mirror and doesn’t realize he is living with AIDS.
Anselmo spoke about his difficulties and the dangers associated with AIDS and HIV for World AIDS Day on Saturday at the Impression 5 Science Center, 200 Museum Drive.
As part of observance of the national event, Anselmo and others were present for panels of the NAMES Project Foundation’s AIDS Memorial Quilt being put on display at the science museum for the public.
On display were 16 panels of the quilt, which has more than 44,000 pieces.
“I am honored to be here and I hope I am here next year,” Anselmo said before the group attending the ceremony.
Patrick Lombardi, director of volunteer services for the Lansing Area AIDS Network, 4660 S. Hagadorn Road, opened the ceremony asking for a moment of silence.
“We want to remember their lives and what they taught us,” Lombardi said. “Education is our only tool and we can learn a lot from these panels.”
But this was not the first time the public had the opportunity to see the panels created to remember the victims of AIDS.
The panels had been traveling around the area, hanging in high schools and in MSU’s Kresge Art Center and were available all day for the public to view.
“That was our goal to reach the youth of our community,” he said. “The panels speak for themselves, we don’t have to beat people over the head with safe sex messages.”
Danforth Goff said as a 16-year-old he found out he was HIV positive. Now 16 years later, the amount of HIV in his blood is undetectable.
“When I first found out that I was HIV positive, I was really numb at the time, but I do remember I was scared and I wanted to hide it,” he said.
Goff said there is hope for people living with HIV and AIDS to beat the disease.
Also in attendance for the ceremony were representatives from Lansing and East Lansing to read proclamations. The proclamations announced their support of World AIDS Day and encourage citizens to become involved in community activities during the day.
East Lansing City Councilmember Vic Loomis said the city government is supportive of keeping the level of awareness of HIV and AIDS to the public.
“As a city we are committed to do what we can to see that a cure or cures are found for this dreaded disease,” he said.
