Why is Victoria’s Red Ribbon different to the rest of Australia?

It’s a global symbol for HIV/AIDS awareness, so why does Victoria’s Red Ribbon look different to the rest?

The first World AIDS Day, which occurred on December 1st, 1988, is recognised globally as an international day of awareness.

It’s a day to show support for people living with HIV and remember those we’ve lost. One of the ways we do this is by purchasing and wearing a red ribbon.

It was created by the 12 artists who made up the New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus in 1991.

The ribbons were inspired by yellow ribbons tied to trees honouring American soldiers in the Gulf War.

Red was chosen for its connection to blood, passion and heart. Its shape, with a loop at the top, was easy to make, it had no significance.

Seeing the ribbon overseas, Brent Lacey decided to create something like it at home in Victorian. And the uniquely Victorian Red Ribbon was created.

Photo thanks to the Australian Queer archives.
Brent Lacey, August 1992, photographer unidentified (possibly Bill Calder), Brother Sister Collection

More ribbon per roll

“Brent found that if he got rid of the loop at the top, he could get an extra 200 ribbons out of a roll,” Tex McKenzie explained.

For many years, Tex was a tireless worker and volunteer for Thorne Harbour Health, previously known as the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC).

This is one of his favourite topics to share with the community.

“Brent was a flight attendant and saw the red ribbons in a bookshop. He asked what they were about and learned they were a remembrance of people who had died of AIDS,” Tex said.

“They were on display as a public awareness raising tool.”

Purchasing the ribbons was also a way of raising money for local organisations. This was something that Brent decided he wanted to bring back to his home in Victoria.

Bringing the community together, Brent would make and distribute the ribbons in LGBTQ+ venues. Removing the loop meant that they could get more out of a roll of ribbon.

“Ribbons didn’t exist as a fundraising tool before 1992 in Australia,” Tex told us.

“The Red Ribbon became so identifiable with HIV and raising awareness that other charities took it up.

“For 32 years, it has been a conversation starter. Here in Australia, it was something Brent thought up and brought back.

“He started distribution through the leather community at The Laird Hotel.

“This was before the venue became men-only, and all sorts would come and sit down and make red ribbons for our first World AIDS Day.”

Who’s going to buy a ribbon?

While a great idea, this was no small achievement and got a bit much for Brent the next year.

He approached the fundraising committee of the then Victorian AIDS Council and asked about collaborating.

“He offered to collaborate or even have them take the project over as December was getting closer.”

“People had heard about the ribbons and wanted them,” Tex said.

“They had seen the ones with the loop coming out of the US, and these were different. Brent was distributing them Australia-wide.”

The AIDS Council didn’t think this was something people would spend money on.

“They didn’t think anybody was going to buy a little piece of ribbon to stick on themselves so people would talk about HIV,” Tex said.

So Brent soldiered on with the project with plenty of community help.

The Red Ribbon was worn at the AFL Grand Final and stocked at The Body Shop, creating conversation and awareness.

“Having that visibility at the Grand Final leading up to World AIDs Day was amazing,” Tex said.

“Brent knew someone at The Body Shop who agreed to have ribbons in every shop across Australia. All of that money came back to the Red Ribbon project.

“When the David Williams Fund was established, all of the money for the next two decades went there.”

The David Williams Fund provides emergency financial assistance to people living with HIV experiencing financial hardship.

“When the second cheque came in for how much money was raised, the Victorian AIDS Council were happy to take over the project,” Tex said.

Continuing the community legacy

It wasn’t just about the loop; the safety pin showing was also a part of the design.

“In the 80s, they didn’t know what was causing HIV,” Tex said.

“If you were looking for sex with condoms, you could signal others by pinning a safety pin to the top of your shirt. Then people would know that you were looking for safe sex.”

Gay men in America used this as a code more than Aussies.

Without the loop to hide the pin, incorporating it as a visible part of the Victorian Red Ribbon was part of Brent’s design.

In 2022, Thorne Harbour Health introduced Red Ribbon Making Workshops. This is a way to continue Brent’s community legacy and share the story of Victoria’s Red Ribbon.

Ahead of this weekend’s Red Ribbon Street Appeal, workshops are taking place in Victoria to make the ribbons.

This weekend, get one from Thorne Harbour volunteers. They’re on the streets from 29 November to 2 December, handing them out.

Wearing a red ribbon reminds everyone that HIV Still Matters.