World AIDS Day brings powerful events to Vashon

This weekend, Vashon Island will commemorate World AIDS Day with a weekend of remembrance, community dialogue, art and inspiration.

A host of organizers and activists have partnered to present the events. They include Vashon World AIDS Day and The David Serko Project, the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Not On Our Island, Take a Stand Theatre, Vashon Repertory Theatre, Vashon Island Film Institute, and the Vashon Island School District.

The events aim to foster community solidarity, promote empathy, and encourage active dialogue around critical social issues,” organizer Chris Boscia said, in a press release. “Please join us in honoring the memory of Matthew Shepard and those lost to AIDS and in exploring how our community can be a force for positive change.”

World AIDS Day on Vashon will include the following presentations and events, all of which are free to the public but will also serve as a fundraiser. Islanders are encouraged to donate to the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which empowers individuals to embrace human dignity and diversity through outreach, advocacy and resource programs.

December 7

At 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, there will be an exhibition of “The Cards and Letters Exhibit,” supported by Vashon Repertory Theatre, at Vashon High School. The exhibit, provided by the Matthew Shepard Foundation, shares cards and letter received by Matthew’s family after his death in 1998, in Laramie, Wyoming. Mathew was murdered at the age of 21 in a brutal act of anti-gay hate.

The exhibit, said event organizers, illustrates the profound impact of his story on individuals and communities and highlighting the urgent need for continued advocacy and unity.

At 6:30 p.m., a staged reading of “The Laramie Project,” by Moisés Kaufman, will take place in the high school’s theater.

This play captures Laramie, Wyoming’s reckoning with Matthew’s murder, and explores the broader themes of prejudice, accountability, and community healing. The performance aims to spark discussions on tolerance, the media’s role in shaping perception, and collective responsibility for addressing hate.

Its cast, directed by Chris Boscia, includes Dedra Whitt-Dakota; Phillip Gorbachov; Mateo Grey; Catherine MacNeal; Toby Nichols; Cate O’Kane; Brian Palermo; Kaycie Alanis; Steven Sterne; Erika Strandberg and Jon Whalen. Brooke Osment and West McLean have designed the production’s projections, sound and lights.

Before the performance, audience members will hear a recorded address by Dennis Shepard, sharing insights into the work he and his wife, Judy Shepard, a 2024 Presidential Medal of Honor recipient, have undertaken in their son’s name to foster acceptance and combat hate.

Dennis will also visit Vashon prior to the performance, to speak directly to the cast of the show and organizers of the World AIDS Day event.

After the show, a post-show discussion will be presented by Not On Our Island. Moderated by Cate O’Kane, panelists will include members of the media, education, health, and faith communities on Vashon.

December 8

According to organizers, this will be a day to examine “what activism looks like.”

At 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, there will be a screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary film, “How to Survive a Plague,” at Vashon Theatre. The film recounts the courageous efforts of AIDS activists who pushed the government and medical establishment to develop and approve life-saving HIV/AIDS treatments in the late 1980s and early 90s.

A post-film discussion, moderated by author, playwright and photographer Peter Serko, will include a panel of island artists and activists, focusing on the role of art in activism and its power to create change. Joining Serko on the panel will be Dana Schuerholz, an activist and photographer, and several other Vashon artists and activists who will share how their work has amplified causes and inspired advocacy.

Correction: A previous version of this article stated in error that Dennis Shepard would appear in person at World AIDS Day events taking place on December 7, at Vashon High School. Shepard will visit Vashon to attend a rehearsal of “The Laramie Project” and meet with organizers of the Dec. 7 and 8 events, but that event is not open to the public.