Ed Garren
Family therapist and longtime LGBTQ+ activist Ed Garren shares a deeply personal journey from childhood bullying and abuse to embracing his identity and refusing to live in fear or secrecy. After moving to West Hollywood in the 1980s, Ed became involved in local politics and activism just as the AIDS epidemic was devastating the community. He reflects on how the crisis forced many closeted gay men into visibility, his involvement in the first Los Angeles AIDS Walk, and the grassroots efforts that helped establish anonymous HIV testing in California. Ed offers a firsthand perspective on resilience, activism, and a pivotal era in LGBTQ+ history.