A major shift is coming for STORIES: The AIDS Monument as it prepares for its long-awaited grand opening on Sunday, November 16, 2025, in West Hollywood.
At the ceremony, organizers will announce that ONE Institute will take over responsibility for the Monument’s events and public programs before year’s end, working in partnership with the City of West Hollywood.
Beginning next year, visitors can expect monthly docent-led tours, along with art installations and community events tied to Pride, LGBTQ+ History Month, and World AIDS Day. ONE Institute also plans to collaborate with local HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ organizations to bring those programs to life.
For years, the Foundation for The AIDS Monument has operated as a small board-run nonprofit with minimal staff. Board members, many of whom have worked for more than a decade to bring the project to completion, said they reached a point where they needed a sustainable partner to manage ongoing programming.
“Rather than raise money to hire an executive director and staff, we thought it would be more efficient to find an existing organization aligned with our mission,” said Irwin Rappaport, Chair of the Foundation for the AIDS Monument in a message to supporters. With the City’s backing, the Board unanimously selected ONE Institute — led by former AIDS Monument Executive Director Tony Valenzuela— to carry the work forward.
Two current Board members have joined the ONE Institute Board, and an AIDS Monument subcommittee will be formed so others can stay involved.
Founded in 1952, ONE Institute is the nation’s oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ organization. The group has a long record of curating public programs that explore queer life and HIV/AIDS history, most recently through its acclaimed exhibition on ACT UP LA during the annual Circa Festival.
Supporters say that background makes ONE Institute the perfect steward for the Monument’s guiding mission — to remember, celebrate, and educate.
Those wishing to attend the grand opening can RSVP here.
