A Shameless Agitator Reflects on AIDS Activism and Its Relevance Today

Steve Gibson '88, HIV prevention branch chief for the California Department of Health, will present "A Shameless Agitator Reflects on AIDS Activism and Its Relevance Today" on Thursday, February 15, at 7 p.m. The presentation, to be held in the Alumni Room of Old Main on the Knox College campus, is free and open to the public.

After graduating from Knox with a degree in modern languages, Gibson received his master's degree in social work and community organizing from St. Louis University before moving to San Francisco as a community organizer at the STOP AIDS Project. In 2003, he founded Magnet, the first integrated sexual health services and community center. Designed to serve 1,000 clients annually, the program now serves more than 10,000 and operates through the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Magnet has become an internationally recognized model of sexual health and inspired similar centers in Peru, Spain, France, Australia, and India.

"We are seeing tremendous strides to reduce new HIV infections and decrease stigma. New bio-medical interventions, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV-negative people and achieving viral suppression for those living with the virus, have transformed HIV from a death sentence to a chronic, manageable condition for most," said Gibson. "I'm proud to have played a role in helping us get there."

But Gibson notes that, "disparities continue, most notably among African-Americans, Latino gay men, and transgender women. The work must continue."

Gibson's career achievements will be recognized on Friday, February 16, when he and three other Knox College alumni will be presented with Alumni Achievement Awards.