Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Andrew Garbarino stood with The Pines Foundation and advocates on Fire Island to announce the bipartisan, bicameral Fire Island AIDS Memorial Act. This bill would authorize The Pines Foundation to establish a memorial to honor Fire Island residents who died of AIDS. New York was at the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in the United States, and more than 130,000 people in the Empire State diagnosed with AIDS have died as of 2022. The Fire Island AIDS Memorial would also educate future generations about the AIDS epidemic and the impact that it had on Fire Island, and particularly the Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove communities.
“Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove have long been, and will always be, a home and safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community. This was especially true during the AIDS epidemic,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I wrote and introduced the Fire Island AIDS Memorial Act because this community deserves to cement the memories of loved ones lost to one of the worst epidemics in the history of humankind and to acknowledge the caregivers and friends who mobilized to care for those in the Pines and Cherry Grove. I’m so proud to be standing with this community today, and I look forward to working with Congressman Garbarino to see this bill through. We will never forget the devastating loss of life to AIDS in New York and across the country as we continue fighting to ensure the safety and well-being of the HIV/AIDS community.”
“New York State was an epicenter of the AIDS epidemic, with the Pines and Cherry Grove communities being significantly impacted. This memorial will be a fitting tribute to those who were lost to this awful disease. I am proud to have partnered with Senator Gillibrand to introduce this bipartisan bicameral legislation to move this memorial forward and ensure those lost will never be forgotten,” said Congressman Garbarino.
“There are perhaps no communities in the world that were more devasted by the AIDS crisis than Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove. Far too many left the island vibrant and healthy at the end of a season, only to succumb to the disease and not to be seen again on Fire Island. Others, rejected by their families of origin, came here to be cared for by their chosen families to live out the last days of their lives. The time has come to honor and celebrate our communities’ impact and resilience in overcoming this horrible epidemic.” -Henry Robin, FIPPOA President
“Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove were ravaged by the AIDS epidemic. The Fire Island AIDS memorial and history archive will ensure that those who died and their caregivers will never be forgotten.” -Jay Pagano, FIPPOA AIDS Memorial Task Force Chair
Members of the Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove communities began developing the proposal for the Fire Island AIDS Memorial in 2020, and have been dedicated to advancing the project ever since. Senator Gillibrand started working with the community members over two years ago to help them get approval from the National Park Service (NPS) to establish the Fire Island AIDS Memorial on a portion of Fire Island National Seashore located between Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove. However, it became increasingly clear that legislation would be needed to achieve the communities’ vision, which is why the senator drafted the Fire Island AIDS Memorial Act.
This bill has been endorsed by The Pines Foundation, GLAAD, The New York City AIDS Memorial, and Housing Works.
For text of the bill, please click here.