Legends and Legacies: Celebrating the stories of PATF and Allies
FEATURING: Kathi Boyle, Stuart Fisk, Tammy Frech, DJ Stemmler & Pam Vingle, Nachum Golan & Steve Hough, Alan Jones, Clarisse Jordan, Larry Leahy, Michael Neal, Richard Parsakian, Dr. Marty Seltman
WHEN: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2
WHERE: Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
COST: Free to attend, registration is required
It has been a year of celebration and remembrance for Allies for Health + Wellbeing, as the organization has marked its 40th anniversary in 2025. Allies was founded as the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force in 1985 to meet the needs of people living with and dying of AIDS in our community. Since then, Allies has expanded its focus beyond HIV prevention and care to address the diverse needs of the Pittsburgh community, including primary care, holistic HIV treatment, PrEP for HIV prevention, hepatitis C and STI testing and care, gender-affirming care, and behavioral health care.
On Tuesday, Dec. 2, Allies for Health + Wellbeing is hosting “Legends and Legacies: Celebrating the stories of PATF and Allies” at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater.
“The Legends and Legacies event honors those who helped create PATF 40 years ago by sharing their experiences with others, some of whom weren’t even born when the AIDS pandemic began,” said Mary Bockovich, CEO of Allies for Health + Wellbeing. “It will help everyone gain a deeper understanding of what it was like to be in the middle of the AIDS crisis in our community. It’s also a way to thank those who were brave enough to help when most turned their backs on people with HIV/AIDS.”
The event, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m., will feature onstage and video conversations with people who have been part of the organization in some way throughout its 40-year history.
“As board chair of Allies for Health + Wellbeing, I am incredibly proud that we are hosting such an important event,” said Keri Harmicar, senior communications director for UPMC Health Plan and Allies board president. “Our Legends and Legacies event honors the progress we’ve made against HIV/AIDS while recognizing the work that remains to be done and offering inspiration for a hopeful future. Now more than ever, we need to be present for the stories of our past so we can prepare for a more compassionate and stigma-free future.”
Onstage speakers include former PATF and Allies staff members Tammy Frech, DJ Stemmler, Pam Vingle, and Alan Jones; author and HIV advocate Clarisse Jordan; Dr. Larry Leahy, who was one of the first people to provide dental care in Pittsburgh to people with HIV/AIDS; and Richard Parsakian, a longtime supporter of PATF and Allies. There also will be videos from Nachum Golan and Steve Hough, longtime PATF and Allies supporters; Michael Neal and Kathi Boyle, both former executive directors of PATF; Stuart Fisk, a former PATF board member and longtime local HIV healthcare provider; and Dr. Marty Seltman, who dedicated his career to LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS healthcare.
“I cannot wait to hear from all of the participants,” Bockovich said. “They are all bringing unique points of view. Of course, no one tells a story quite like Alan Jones, though.”
“Legends and Legacies” is free to attend, but registration is required by Tuesday, Nov. 25.
As Allies for Health + Wellbeing prepares for its next stage, which includes a move to a more spacious location at 211 Tower in East Liberty and addressing significant state funding cuts, Bockovich hopes that “Legends and Legacies” encourages those who attend to a new commitment to the organization and its mission of serving people living with or at risk of HIV.
“It’s important to remember why we are here and to rededicate ourselves to serving the community and carrying on the legacy of those who came before us,” Bockovich said.
Can’t make it on Tuesday, December 2? Stream live during the event or anytime after on the QBurgh YouTube channel!
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