The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State

NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 phone (518) 474-8390

email: http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php

Dear Governor Andrew M. Cuomo,

The attached petition lists the names of current and former New York City residents who lost friends, family and loved one’s to complications of the H.I.V. /A.I.D.S. virus.

We ask that the names of our dead relatives be recorded publicly in the future A.I.D.S. Memorial Park and Public Garden. 

Over 100,000 men, women and children passed before our eyes.

We remember the life of each one.

As you are aware, a new public park is soon to be established in New York City adjacent to the historic St. Vincent’s Hospital in the West Village. This is part of the Rudin development agreement.

With a heavy heart, we petition you and all of our elected representatives to understand that only by naming each person publicly, we honor his or her memory.

Any monument or concept that takes us away from the loss of the individual misses the mark. 

Thank you for your leadership on this matter of importance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender queer and straight residents of New York State. 

We trust that you will understand and respect our wishes.

PETITION text:

Present in Name and Spirit at the New York City A.I.D.S. Memorial Park

The undersigned kindly request that any future design of a N.Y.C. memorial to the men, women and children who died from complications of H.I.V. /A.I.D.S. have their names recorded in a visible public manner.

We value and respect the lives and memory of our friends, family and loved ones.

The names of our dead will not be written down in chalk and washed away by rain.

(As in the “winning” memorial design proposal.)

The names will be recorded: etched in stone, glass, or metal, carved in wood, painted or projected on a wall, subject to additions, impervious to vandalism and publicly displayed. 

Each name will be printed clearly, able to be read easily and even said aloud.*

By signing this petition, I call upon my elected representatives to act in accordance with my wishes.

I make public my devoted belief and desire to see that my friends, family and loved ones who died of complications of H.I.V. /A.I.D.S be remembered and named publicly and respectfully in the final approved design of the New York City A.I.D.S. Memorial Park.

* a braille copy as well as an audio version of the list of names will be created for people who may be in need of assistance due to their loss of vision and or hearing

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