Red ribbon

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For other uses, see Red Ribbon (Bakeshop).

The red ribbon, a ribbon colored red, has several different meanings in different contexts. Foremost, it is the symbol of solidarity of people living with HIV/AIDS.

1 AIDS awareness symbol
- 1.1 Origins
2 Fair award
3 Anti-drug symbol
4 See also

[edit] AIDS awareness symbol

The red ribbon is used internationally as a symbol of the fight against AIDS which first came to prominence at the 1991 Tony Awards. The red ribbon has been a powerful psychological component of AIDS, although it has recently declined in popularity [1]

[edit] Origins

The Red Ribbon Project was created by the New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus in 1991. This extraordinary collaboration believed it was important to:

Remain anonymous as individuals and to credit the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus as a whole in the creation of the Red Ribbon Project, and not to list any individual as the “creator” of the Red Ribbon Project;
Keep the image copyright free, so that no individual or organization would profit from the use of the red ribbon;
The Red Ribbon should be used as a conscious raising symbol, not as a commercial or trademark tool.

The artists who formed the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus wished to create a visual symbol to demonstrate compassion for people living with AIDS and their caregivers. Inspired by the yellow ribbons honoring American soldiers serving in the 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." First worn publicly by Jeremy Irons at the 1991 Tony Awards, the ribbon soon became renowned as an international symbol of AIDS awareness, becoming a politically correct fashion accessory on the lapels of celebrities. The Red Ribbon continues to be a powerful force in the fight to increase public awareness of HIV/AIDS and in the lobbying efforts to increase funding for AIDS services and research.

In a 1991 weekly column for Outweek magazine, media columnist Michael Goff asked where the pink ribbons were for those dead, dying, and fighting AIDS in comparison to the outsized response of yellow ribbons in support of the first Gulf War which resulted in few American casualties. Frank Moore and Patrick O'Connell of Visual Aids called Goff to ask if they might take it on, and went on to create and build the successful Red Ribbon Project.

[edit] Fair award

At county and state fairs in the United States, a red ribbon is awarded to the competitor finishing in second place in a contest. It is used for first place in Canada.

In some judging competitions, particularly in 4-H and FFA livestock and horticultural competitions, red ribbons may be given to a project that meets some of the judging criteria but falls short in other areas. Superior projects and exhibits are awarded blue ribbons (which are second-place ribbons in Canada).

[edit] Anti-drug symbol

Every year in the United States, one week is designated National Red Ribbon Week by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which urges citizens to wear red ribbons as a symbol to "say no to drugs." Many primary schools and secondary schools systematically hand out red ribbons to their students in this week and encourage students to wear them.