The AIDS Awareness Ribbon, or red ribbon, is commonly seen adorning jacket lapels and other articles of clothing as a symble of solidarity and a commitment to the fight against AIDS.

The Ribbon Project was conceived in 1991 by Visual AIDS, a New York-based charity group of art professionals that aims to recognize and honor friends and colleagues who have died or are dying of AIDS.  Visual AIDS encourages arts organizations, museums, commercial galleries, and AIDS support groups to commemorate those lost to AIDS, to create greater awareness of AIDS/HIV transmission, to publicize the needs of Persons With AIDS, and to call for greater funding of services and research.  Inspired by the yellow ribbons honoring American soldiers of the Persian Gulf War, the color red was chosen for its "connection to blood and the idea of passion -- not only anger, but love, like a valentine," as stated by Frank Moore of Visual AIDS. Worn by host Jeremy Irons, the ribon made its public debut at the 1991 Tony Awards, and soon became a popular and politically correct fashion statement for celebrities and other awards ceremonies.  Because of this popularity, some activists worry that the ribbon has become simple lip service to AIDS causes; in one particular incident the First Lady Barbara Bush wore a red ribbon while sitting in the audience with her husband, but when she stood at the President's side during his speech, her ribbon was conspicuously missing. However, the Ribbon Project remains a powerful force in spreading awareness of AIDS and stressing the need for further action and research of the disease.  The  sincerest hope for the Ribbon Project is that it will one day no longer be needed.

The lambda symbol seems to be one the the most controversial of symbols in regards to its meaning.  The are several differing opinions as to why the lambda was chosed as a gay symbol and what it really means.  However, most sources agree on a few things: The lambda was first chosen as a gay symbol when it was adopted in 1970 by the New York Gay Activists Alliance.  It became the symbol of their growing movement of gay liberation.  In 1974, the lambda was subsequently adopted by the International Gay Rights Congress held in Edinburgh, Scotland.  As their symbol for lesbian and gay rights, the lambda became internationally popular. But where history ends, speculation begins.  No one seems to have a definitive answer why the lambda was originally chosen as a gay symbol.  Some suggest that it is simply the Greek lower-case letter 1 for liberation.  Others disagree, citing the use of lambda in physics to denote energy (the energy we have when we work in concert) or wavelength (are gays and lesbians on a different wavelength?).  Lambda may also denote the synergy of the gay movement, the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  The lamda also may represent scales and balance, and the constant force that keeps opposing sides from overcoming each other -- the hook at the bottom of the right leg signifies the action needed to reach and maintain balance.  The ancient Greek Spartans regarded the lambda to mean unity, while the Romans considered it "the light of knowledge shed into the darkness of ignorance." Whatever the exact meaning and origin, the lambda originally embodied a fairly militant connotation.  Today, the symbol generally denotes lesbian's and gay men's concerns together.  Although the lambda was never intended to be linked to any specific gender or orientation such as other symbols may be, historically this is not so:  In the early 1970's the Los Angeles gay community created a flag with a lavender lambda on a simple white background.  They hoped the flag would catch on to other cities, but their hopes ere denied because some saw the lambda as a male symbol only. This material was adapted from Jaso P Wells.