September is shaping up to be a busy month for LKAPS and for the broader HIV community, with several opportunities to connect, learn, and reflect on the stories that have shaped our lives.
Here in Palm Springs, Cinema Diverse will feature two films with special connections to LKAPS. Redlining, the acclaimed new short film from our friend Jason Stuart, will screen on September 19, and Surviving Voices: AIDS Caregivers, produced and directed by Jörg Fockele for the National AIDS Memorial, will screen on September 25. Both films offer very different opportunities to reflect on history, community and the experiences that too often go unrecorded. I hope many of you will support these filmmakers and join us at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Please scroll down for more information about both screenings and how to purchase tickets.
September is also a big month for the HIV community nationally. I’ll be in Anaheim for the Collaboration in Care Conference: HIV & Healthy Aging and the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA). Both gatherings provide important opportunities to make sure the experiences and needs of people aging with HIV remain part of the national conversation. If you’re planning to attend either conference, please let me know. I would love to connect while we’re there.
Finally, thank you to everyone who continues to participate in our Roundtable, Dine Arounds, social gatherings and other activities. LKAPS remains what it has always been at its best: a place where HIV long-term survivors can find one another, stay connected and continue building community together.
Warmly, Jax
Jax Kelly, President Let’s Kick ASS Palm Springs (AIDS Survivor Syndrome) JaxKelly@lkaps.org
Social Events
Surviving Voices
Remembering Those Who Cared: Friday, September 25th 5 PM
LKAPS members and friends are encouraged to attend a special Cinema Diverse screening of Surviving Voices: AIDS Caregivers, the newest chapter in the National AIDS Memorial’s award-winning oral history series.
Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Redlining
Saturday, September 19th – 7:30 PM
LKAPS invites our members and friends to see Redlining, a new short film by Palm Springs resident Jason Stuart, the award-winning actor, comedian, filmmaker and LGBTQ activist who joined us for our annual dinner at Mizell Center in June.
Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262
The Roundtable
The Roundtable is our weekly drop-in discussion group, where we make connections and build community through conversation. Peer coordinators facilitate discussions of topics both serious and fun that include and allow everyone to participate.
Got a topic that’s been on your mind? Send your idea to the roundtable team and join the conversation!
SUMMER ISHERE! So, the ONLINE Roundtable will meet MONTHLY on the LAST Tuesday ONLY.
September 2026 Topics:
September 3 – Over the course of our lives, what’s the biggest change in the world?
September 10 – What can we do to feel a greater sense of belonging to this diverse community of
September 17 – Even though we may participate in groups and events, how do we combat a
September 24 – If you were mentoring a 25-year-old gay/queer man today, what’s one thing you’d want him to know about life that has nothing to do with being careful?
**BONUS TOPIC** TUESDAY September 29 ONLINE – Best movie you ever saw? The worst? The one you most want to see again? The one you only watch alone, over and over again?
Mizell Center 480 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 Get Directions
If you would like assistance with Zoom or a ride to the Thursday meeting, please email the roundtable team
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Our community is built on the strength of our shared history. “Knowing Me, Knowing You” is our dedicated space for members to share their personal HIV journeys—the challenges, the triumphs, and the resilience that defines us as long-term survivors.
Read & Submit: You can read the latest stories from your fellow members and submit your own story online all in one place. You don’t have to be a professional writer to participate; your voice and your journey are what matter most. Sharing your story helps ensure that no one in our community feels they are walking this path alone. Share your story here!
LKAPS Coffee
Sunday, September 6th – 10:00 AM
Ristretto, an easygoing cafe for coffee, tea & pastries plus sandwiches & salads in a casual storefront. There is plenty of parking in their lot.
Bubba’s Bones & Brews 68525 Ramon Rd Ste A101, Cathedral City, CA 92234
Potluck
Sunday, September 27, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Andy Estrin will be displaying 7 art pieces by “Face of AIDS” and Palm Springs Art Museum artist Jackie Kirk. Bring a dish to share. We’ll send an evite with the details.
Pride 5k Run/Walk
Saturday, November 7, 8:00 AM
LKAPS will be a beneficiary again this year from the Palm Springs Pride 5K Run/Walk. Sponsored by the Palm Springs Front Runners and Walkers.
January 2027 HIV Positive Cruise and Retreat For just about $600 (plus airfare to Florida) you can luxuriate in seven days on a beautiful new Princess cruise ship in the Caribbean. In addition to the meals, shows, shore excursions and non-stop entertainment, there will be an onboard social retreat to connect with 150 HIV positive men and women from around the country. Get wild and silly or sit by the pool reading a book. Roommate matching for those traveling single This link has all the details https://cruisedesignstravel.com/hiv-cruise-retreat-21/#. If you have any questions or plan to go, please contact Lorenzo Taylor at taylorenzo@aol.com. Several LKAPS members have traveled with this annual cruise designed for HIV positive people.
Live! Laugh! Lust!
September 19, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
“A Symposium on Living and Thriving with HIV featuring some of the most prominent actors in the HIV/AIDS community!”
TM courses are offered about once/month in Palm Springs, for those living with HIV (and their caregivers) the course fees are fully covered by grants and scholarships. There’s no charge to participate.
Don’t miss out on the BIOS CLINICAL RESEARCH CURRENT DRUG TRIALS event, it’s your chance to get the latest scoop on current HIV drug trials that are currently enrolling participants.
A Death Café is a group-led open conversation about death and dying. It is not counseling or a bereavement group; and there is no agenda, specified topics, or designated outcomes.
Theme ~ United and Unbreakable: The HIV Movement at 45
The United States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) is the nation’s largest convener of community, workforce and frontline service providers, government, policymakers, and healthcare industry across the HIV movement.
Circle is an informal weekly zoom drop-in for connection and support. There is no agenda, no topic – like getting together at grandmother’s house every week. Enjoy! It’s powerful.
National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (#NHAAD / #HIVandAging) September 18th Purpose: Highlights the growing population of people living long, full lives with HIV aged 50 and older, as well as long-term survivors. It emphasizes the unique medical, mental health, and social support needs of older adults living with HIV, combating ageism and isolation, and promoting regular screening among older populations.
National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (#NGMHAAD) September 27 Purpose: Recognizes the disproportionate impact of HIV on gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). It focuses on ending stigma, increasing access to testing, promoting biomedical prevention methods like PrEP and PEP, and encouraging continuous engagement in care to achieve viral suppression (U=U).
Donate your HIV Meds
Donate your not needed HIV Meds at the Positive Life Series monthly. Bring your not needed HIV meds to the Positive Life Series (The first Tuesday of the Month) and give to Jeff Taylor. They are donated to an HIV Clinic in Mexico.
You don’t have to receive ALL emails from lkaps.org. You can choose which ones you would like by updating your email preferences. You can also update your phone number and your birthdate along with whether you would like to be included in the directory. There is always a link at the bottom of every email.
Submit to the Newsletter
Anyone is welcome to submit ideas, stories, photos and videos related to social connection, education, and advocacy for people aging with HIV to our monthly newsletter. Please send to news@lkaps.org by the 25th for inclusion in the following month’s newsletter.
Support LKAPS
Let’s Kick ASS Palm Springs sponsors inclusive social activities for people deeply affected by HIV. We are all races, genders, HIV+ and HIV-. Some of our members are outgoing, others are introverted or have been isolated. There are no requirements about participation, we encourage you to come out and meet us.
