World AIDS Day was celebrated on December 1st. In Sitges there were different activities organised by our association Colors Sitges Link together with the Sitges Town Hall and Cine Club Sitges, such as the reading of the manifesto in the plenary hall of the Sitges Town Hall, the information table to raise funds that, during the whole day, was at the Cap de la Vila next to a large canvas of 240 x 240cm with the slogan “Leave your mark in the fight against AIDS“, people could leave their red footprint, the traditional commemorative tapestry by the artist Isabel Pruna, or the glass of solidarity cava, the discussion and the screening of the film “Live slowly, love quickly” that Cine Club Sitges screened at the El Prado cinema.
Read the official manifesto Zero stigma, zero HIV
The culmination of the event was the CSL Benefit Gala, held at the Dolce Sitges Hotel on Saturday 3 December.
The CSL Solidarity Gala award went to Dr. Sonia Albertos.
Every year is special, but this one is even more so because at Colors Sitges Link we keep trying to change and improve. One of these changes has been the change of name: the AIDS Gala has become the CSL Benefit Gala.
The event was attended by a large representation of the local government with six councillors. Jaume Monasterio, councillor for Urban Services and Mobility and Sports and representing Sitges Town Council, recalled the importance of the event for the fight against HIV and “investing in research to tackle this virus“.
In addition, 2022 has been a busy year in terms of health events: three mass screenings for hepatitis C and several rapid testing marathons, which have mobilised more than fifty volunteers from the association and other organisations such as the Red Cross. We wanted to reward Dr. Sonia Albertos, from the Alt Penedès-Garraf Health Consortium, and promoter of mass screening to eradicate Hepatitis C in the gay community. The doctor pointed out that of the 1,200 tests carried out in Sitges, all were negative, which means that the stigma that this community is the one that suffers most from HCV is a stigma that must disappear.
Youth, talent, dance and quality in the 2022 performances.
La Secre animated the gala for yet another year and there were different performances by the winners of the 2022 edition of Queer Talent, the show that for the second year closes the Sitges Queer Fest and which this year was held at the Mercat Vell. First up was Kevin Calafi with This Is Not It, a tribute band to Michael Jackson. Then Yei Forero dazzled again with his dance and sympathy, and finally, Emmie Reek gave 4 songs full of energy, and brought the audience to their feet.
Later, the traditional and essential solidarity raffle, which is where the association can raise funds. This year, the sponsors gave away 60 prizes worth around 2,000 euros. The funds raised from this raffle will be used to continue with the promotion of health through the programmes we carry out in the association, the prevention of STIs and the promotion of well-being and emotional health for all LGTBIQ+ people, through the activities we organise in the association.
Let’s promote local commerce.
We would like to thank the sponsors because without their generosity, it would not be possible. Please, we invite you from here to collaborate with them, to promote local commerce:
Jose Antonio Serrano (artista), POLO STAR, TORRONS VICENS, JULIA PERFUMERIA, QUIOSC DE L’ALBA, INNERBARK, CHERI VARNADOE (artista), SWEET SITGES, CATHERINE HART, HOLY SHERAMICS, LOVE FROM SITGES BITGES, FLORISTERIA ISABEL, COLORS SITGES LINK, LA PICARA, BELL LLOC RIBES, CAFETERIA CLARS, CANYATECA, EL BARBER, EVERLASTING LOVE, LA VILA, CINEMA CLUB SITGES, DESCAN SHOP SITGES, INCOGNI ETERNAL, TEL. BAR, PAO DE SITGES GIN, FONTANALS SITGES, OLALLA RAMIREZ, BAR TOMEU, SEVEN LOUNGE.
We do not want to forget to congratulate and thank Martín Martín and all the team of collaborators and volunteers for their work and good work to achieve the success of the CSL 2022 Solidarity Gala: Bruce Findlay, Oscar Aguilar, Fernando La Vieja, Craig, Marc Santri, André and Jane Woltemade, Laia Conesa, Marcos Renato, Javier Pérez, Robert Webber, Pardo García and Tim Telcs.
