Little Caleb Glover gets to go swimming, as Campaign to End AIDS event boosts awareness of AIDS stigma
Two months ago, Alabama toddler Caleb Glover was barred from the pool at the Alabama RV resort Wales West simply because he is HIV-positive. Yesterday, Caleb, accompanied by dozens of HIV-positive activists from the Campaign to End AIDS (c2ea.org), finally got to take a dip in the Wales West pool. The Labor Day swim was part of C2EA's "family reunion" at the resort, intended to call attention to the stigma that still affects people living with HIV/AIDS.
"Our family reunion was wonderful not only because Wales West welcomed us and publicly demonstrated its respect for people living with HIV/AIDS but because we stood strong as a community and showed that we will respond when one of our own faces discrimination," said Larry Bryant, C2EA's HIV-positive national field organizer.
Wales West owner Ken Zadnichek outraged people living with HIV/AIDS and everyday folks across the nation in July when he banned HIV-positive 2-year-old Caleb from the pool, showers and other common areas of his resort after he found out about Caleb's HIV status. Yesterday, however, Zadnicheck interacted cordially with C2EA activists and did not try to stop Caleb from swimming in the pool. In a statement he said, "Wales West's goal is to provide a family-oriented RV resort and train park for the enjoyment of the public. Wales West endorses HIV/AIDS research and prevention. Wales West complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Some 50 C2EA activists attended the family reunion. Attendees, most of whom were HIV-positive, traveled in car caravans from Washington, D.C., Miami, Houston, and Dallas and came from states as far away as California and Ohio to stand in solidarity with Caleb. They barbecued, played cards, and swam in bathing suits bearing the slogan "HIV Positive."
Silvia Glover, Caleb's foster mother, was deeply moved by the family reunion. "I can't believe all the people who came from around the country to support Caleb and I. I'm fighting back for Caleb and all others who are HIV-positive, who are guilty of nothing," she said, adding, "Normally Caleb is a little shy of the water but today he had a great time."
The family reunion dominated media coverage in Southern Alabama, including stories on local ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox channels, as well as in the Mobile Press-Register.
See NBC15's story (with video) here.
Read the Press-Register article here.
To speak to Silvia Glover or Larry Bryant, or for more information please contact David Thorpe at Thorpe@housingworks.org or 646-210-1805.
The Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA) is a national network of AIDS activists led by people living with HIV/AIDS. C2EA believes that the tools exist to end the AIDS epidemic worldwide. C2EA seeks universal access to and the provision of HIV/AIDS care, prevention and treatment. To learn more about the C2EA, visit C2EA.org.