Below are events being held to mark World AIDS Day, which is officially on Dec. 1:
Dec. 1
Vida/SIDA and Puerto Rican Cultural Center will hold a candlelight vigil at 4 p.m., followed by a guest speaker, the release of its annual report and a Latino MSM forum, at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, 3015 W. Division St. The event is free but register at www.eventbrite.com/e/world-aids-day-msm-community-forum-tickets-19502237718 .
Austin Health Center, 4800 W. Chicago Ave., will hold a World AIDS Day commemoration 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Staff members will serve as keynote speakers, and there will be free raffles, HIV screenings and refreshments as well as a balloon-release ceremony. Call 773-826-9933 or 773-243-7135 for more info.
Women and Children First Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark St., will host a conversation on women and HIV/AIDS at 7 p.m. See WomenAndChildrenFirst.com .
The International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 N. Lake Shore Dr., is assembling "Then and Now: 35 Years of HIV/AIDS," a large-scale timeline of HIV/AIDS that charts the intersections of medicine and the social from the first appearance of the disease in 1981 to the Present Day. The exhibit runs through Wed., Dec. 30.
Artists Giving Back will be producing RENT at Chicago's Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., at 7:30 p.m. with all proceeds going directly to AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Singer Steve Grand is slated to perform. See artistsgivingback.org/event/rent/ .
Dec. 1:
"#BlackLivesMatter: HIV, Stigma and Violence" will take place at University Center, 525 S. State St., 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Register at AIDSChicago.org/blacklivesmatter .
Dec. 3
AIDS Foundation of Chicago will hold its annual "World of Chocolate" event at the Chicago Union Station's Great Hall at 6-9 p.m. ( This year's theme is "Chocolate, Glitz & Glamour." ) See www.aidschicago.org/page/events/fundraising-events/world-of-chocolate-2015 .
Dec. 5
Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., will hold an event at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. that aims to bring together individuals to commemorate strides made in HIV/AIDS research, prevention and outreach work. See CenterOnHalsted.org .