WATCH: Dustin Lance Black Discusses HIV/AIDS Awareness

Michael Canaugh of HIVHero.org chatted with various members of the LGBT community on the red carpet for the GMHC Gala. The interviewees differed in field, fame, and journey toward HIV/AIDS activism. We've collected our favorite snippets from the video, which you can watch in full at the bottom of this post.

Dustin Lance Black, writer and producer:

"When I was a kid growing up in the Bay Area in theater, my mentors--the people I was training with--were vanishing. I wasn't told where they went I was just told they wouldn't be back for the next season. Back in that day, silence and invisibility really did equal death. Times have changed. Treatment could mean prevention, but there are barriers still. The barrier used to be homophobia, now it's stigma and poverty. We've got to figure out how to use our history--to use our know-how, our voices and our stories--to get past the stigma and past issues of racism and poverty that keep this a problem."

Judy Gold, comedian:

"I travel around and do a lot of shows and I meet young gay men and the first thing I tell them is, 'Wear a condom.' We can never ever forget."

Kelsie Louie, CEO of GMHC:

"We are going to announce tonight that GMHC will be pursuing healthcare, meaning that we will be able to provide medical services on site at GMHC."