On December 1, Jamie Lee Curtis used her platform to highlight AIDS advocacy, posting a memorable photo connected to her long-term efforts in AIDS awareness. The image, the focus keyword “Jamie Lee Curtis AIDS advocacy,” captured attention on World AIDS Day as Curtis, 67, explained its significance for her, her friends, and the global community fighting the disease.
The photo, originally taken at the 1995 AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) Walk at Paramount Studios, showcased Curtis wearing a striking red halter-style bra top. Curtis honored both her late friend Rick Frank and Frank’s husband, George Lowe, both of whom lost their lives to AIDS-related complications. In her own words,
To my friends, Rick and George and all their friends and families and all of yours and all who we lost, all over the world. We will continue the fight.
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress
Many fans responded to Curtis’s post, recognizing for the first time that her garment resembled the iconic red AIDS ribbon, with actor Cheyenne Jackson remarking,
I JUST now realized that was an AIDS ribbon. Wow,
— Cheyenne Jackson, Actor. Another supporter expressed gratitude for Curtis remembering both Rick and George, recalling their impact on their loved ones.
Personal Loss Drives Curtis’s Commitment to Advocacy
During a Cinema Society screening of her film “Ella McCay” at MoMA and 53 Restaurant in New York City on December 2, Curtis explained the deeper reason for her AIDS Walk outfit. She revealed,
I had just lost my best friend, Rick Frank, that year. The year before, his husband died, and then Rick died, and I went to the AIDS Walk for the first time and wore that red ribbon sash,
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress. She followed with,
I knew they wanted me to speak, and I wore a jacket over it, and when I got up to the microphone, I took my jacket off because I’m a very good marketing person.
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress.
Curtis emphasized the intention behind her bold fashion choice, stating,
I knew that if I walked up to that microphone and dropped that jacket wearing that red thing, it would make people pay attention, which is the point.
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress. Her actions were designed to maximize visible support and draw public focus to the urgent need for research, resources, and awareness for AIDS organizations like AIDS Project Los Angeles.
Richard “Rick” Frank, referenced frequently by Curtis, worked alongside her on the ABC sitcom “Anything But Love.” Frank died of AIDS complications in 1995, and George Lowe, his husband, passed away just a year earlier.
The Ongoing Importance of Collective Advocacy
Discussing her decades-long association with AIDS advocacy groups, Curtis pointed to the power of public gatherings and community action, stating,
We were there as a collective to try to do something together, which is what the AIDS Walk did and continues to do, which is raise money, raise awareness, more and more research, more attempts at finding a cure,
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress. Curtis further noted hope for progress, adding,
And even today I read that they’re closer than they’ve ever been.
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress.
Addressing those inspired to become advocates, especially women, Curtis offered blunt guidance,
Get out of your own way,
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress. She continued,
Just get out of your own way. Just move that ego or move that obstacle you think is holding you back. Move it out of the way and just get f***ing going.
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress.
On acting promptly and decisively, she added,
We have no time to waste. Nobody does. Certainly not someone with a passion and an idea. You must drive that immediately.
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress. Curtis’s own actions demonstrate the urgency she urges others to embrace in advocacy and activism, especially regarding issues as pressing as AIDS research and support.
Reflections in Film and the Broader Struggle for Public Good
Curtis’s recent film, “Ella McCay,” mirrors many of these themes, exploring advocacy through the lens of its titular character’s journey from public service in government to confronting personal and societal challenges. Starring Emma Mackey as Ella, the narrative centers on her rise from lieutenant governor to governor, addressing conflicts and responsibilities along the way. Curtis plays Helen, Ella’s straightforward and caring aunt.
In discussing the film’s relevance, Curtis noted,
We need a movie that lifts us, that reminds us that public service is actually about helping people overcome the obstacles and situations of their lives, and that a public forum and collective can lift people, which is what the goal of it all is,
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress. She expressed concern for the current state of politics, adding,
Unfortunately, we’re living in a time where it’s not public service. It’s politicians. And it’s greed and avarice and vile behavior and language, and we’re seeing it play out every single day.
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress.
Curtis concluded her remarks on a challenging yet hopeful note, stating,
We must change the narrative back to a civility and a civilization that’s aimed at helping each other.
— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress. Her dedication to Jamie Lee Curtis AIDS advocacy remains evident, both in her actions supporting AIDS organizations like AIDS Project Los Angeles and in her creative work that champions the importance of community and service.
“Ella McCay” is scheduled to premiere in theaters on Friday, December 12, continuing Curtis’s ongoing legacy of advocacy on and off the screen.
