AIDS Walk Returns to West Hollywood
APLA Health, the leading nonprofit providing HIV care, prevention, and sexual health services, announces the return of AIDS Walk Los Angeles on Sunday, October 12, 2025, starting from West Hollywood Park.
This year’s event, themed “Community Is the Cure,” invites Angelenos to come together for a day of solidarity, awareness, entertainment, and fundraising in support of critical HIV/AIDS services throughout Los Angeles County. Registration for participants is now open here.
Walk day begins with festivities in West Hollywood Park, featuring a live performance from RuPaul’s Drag Race star Heidi N Closet, DJ sets, community booths, and more. Following the morning’s celebration, walkers will step off from the park and make their way through the streets of West Hollywood.
“This event was born out of urgency, and it’s just as relevant today,” said Craig E. Thompson, CEO of APLA Health. “We’ve made incredible progress in the fight against HIV, but that progress is under direct threat from funding cuts and political attacks. Now is the time to show that we won’t be silenced or set back.”
Since its inception forty years ago, when Los Angeles hosted the first-ever AIDS Walk to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic, AIDS Walk Los Angeles has evolved into one of the largest and most impactful HIV/AIDS fundraising events in the world. What began as a grassroots movement has since united thousands of community members, advocates, and supporters, raising nearly $100 million over the years to combat HIV/AIDS. Proceeds from the walk directly fund APLA Health’s wide-ranging services, including HIV specialty care, sexual health services, food and nutrition support, housing assistance, and more. Today, APLA Health serves more than 22,000 clients annually across eight locations throughout Los Angeles County. In 2024, AIDS Walk Los Angeles raised $1.16 million to support these vital programs and services.
As the fight against HIV/AIDS continues, AIDS Walk Los Angeles underscores both the groundbreaking progress made and the urgent challenges that remain, especially in the face of ongoing funding cuts. Advancements like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), and long-acting injectable prevention options have revolutionized HIV prevention. For those living with HIV, modern treatments can reduce viral loads to undetectable levels, effectively eliminating the risk of transmission. While not a cure, these developments have transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable, preventable condition. Yet, stark disparities persist, with many communities still facing significant barriers to accessing care. That’s why APLA Health plays such a vital role, providing inclusive, high-quality healthcare in medically underserved communities and working to ensure that progress in HIV prevention and treatment reaches everyone, not just a few.
For more information on AIDS Walk Los Angeles and how to register, please visit https://AIDSWALK.LA.
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About APLA Health
APLA Health (formerly AIDS Project Los Angeles) provides world-class healthcare, HIV care, food, housing, and vital support services to more than 22,000 people each year. Since 1983, we have remained committed to ending the HIV epidemic in our lifetime. With eight Federally Qualified Health Centers throughout Los Angeles County, we deliver comprehensive care, including primary care, dental, behavioral, and sexual health services. Our Vance North Necessities of Life Program distributes over one million meals annually, making it the nation’s largest food pantry for people with HIV. APLA Health also advances sound health policy and raises critical support through AIDS Walk LA and Best in Drag Show. Learn more at aplahealth.org.
