Elizabeth TaylorDame Elizabeth Taylor will be remembered for many things. Her award-winning films, her numerous husbands, her fabulous diamonds. But her most important legacy might be her contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS. At the beginning of the epidemic, when few people (especially celebrities) dared to speak on behalf of people living with the virus, Taylor brought national attention to the growing epidemic. She cofounded the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and raised millions of dollars for the cause. Taylor leveraged her celebrity, beauty and fame to educate the world. “It’s bad enough that people are dying of AIDS,” she once said, “but no one should die of ignorance.” Her awareness efforts led to lifesaving treatments and greater compassion toward people living with HIV/AIDS. May her passion inspire us as we continue to fight ignorance and search for a cure for AIDS.

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