200 Years of LGBTQIA+ History

From Shadows to Pride — UK & Global Timeline

Source Record

Red Ribbon Launched

Why this source is used

Visual AIDS event page on the 1991 Tony Awards debut of the red ribbon as an AIDS awareness symbol.

Start with the answer

Start with the answer How did HIV/AIDS shape LGBTQ+ history? HIV/AIDS shaped LGBTQ+ history through bereavement, stigma, public health campaigning, community care, treatment activism, and major medical advances. Start with the answer How did HIV/AIDS change public health and activism? HIV/AIDS changed public health by forcing faster surveillance, treatment approval, community-led prevention, visible memorialisation and international awareness. Read the topic guide HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ Activism HIV/AIDS shaped LGBTQ+ history through loss, stigma, public health campaigning, community organising, treatment activism, and major advances in prevention and care.

Source Status

Publisher
Visual AIDS
Type
organisation
Reliability
high
Cited by
5 pages

Source Links

Open original source https://visualaids.org/events/detail/red-ribbon Accessed 5 June 2026 Open archived copy https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://visualaids.org/events/detail/red-ribbon

Used by Topics

HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ Activism HIV/AIDS Public Health and Memory

Used by Questions

How did HIV/AIDS shape LGBTQ+ history? How did HIV/AIDS change public health and activism?

Used by Timeline Events

2 June 1991 HealthCulturalActivism

Red Ribbon Launched as AIDS Awareness Symbol

The red ribbon, created by the Visual AIDS Artists' Caucus, made its public debut at the Tony Awards, where host Jeremy Irons and presenters wore it. It quickly became an international symbol of solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS and was the first 'awareness ribbon', inspiring many subsequent cause-related ribbons. Deliberately never copyrighted, to ensure universal access.