This week the HIV/AIDS community lost one of its longtime heroines, Beth Wehrman. Beth was an avid advocate for and provider of lifesaving harm reduction services for some of the most vulnerable in numerous communities in Illinois. Through her agency LifeGuard, Beth ensured that people who injected drugs in the Quad Cities and all the way down to Peoria, had the information and tools necessary to keep them safe and healthy. With unwavering passion and commitment, she fought numerous battles to ensure that individuals at high risk of HIV and Hepatitis C infection received the services, care, and respect they deserved. She served as mentor and friend to many harm reduction service providers who followed her. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago extends its deepest condolences to Beth’s family and shares in the sadness of losing a friend, partner, and fellow fighter in the movement to end AIDS.

Read the QC Times Obituary here

Illinois’ HIV/AIDS community suffered a sudden and tragic loss today as word came of the passing of longtime advocate and former Illinois General Assembly member Larry McKeon.

McKeon made history as the first openly gay member of the Illinois General Assembly and the first openly HIV positive legislator in Illinois.

On May 20, 2008, the House of Representatives held its official remembrance of Larry’s life.

View a book of memorial letters from elected officials and friends from the Chicago memorial service on June 14, 2008:
PDF

Special thanks to Liz Caldwell and Dave Gilley of Caldwell & Gilley for producing the book.