Why is Christopher Lee Blauman always the first name I see when I log on?
Because Chris Blauman was the inspiration for AIDSWatch.
Chris died on January 14, 1996. He was a dear friend of AIDSWatch’s creator, David Reid. In the aftermath of Chris’s death, David had an idea: stream the names of people who had died of AIDS.
It wasn’t complicated. It wasn’t particularly original. But it mattered.
For David, it was a way to remember the dozens of people he had known and lost. For thousands of others, it became a way to remember their friends, their lovers, their family members — the people whose names might otherwise have disappeared into the enormous number of lives lost to AIDS.
So Chris’s name remains first.
Not because he was the first to die, or because his story was more important than anyone else’s, but because his death sparked the idea that became AIDSWatch.
Every time that name appears, it is a reminder of where this began — and of why remembering still matters.
Why aren't the names in alphabetical order?
People don't die in alphabetical order.
Why haven't I seen the name I submitted?
The names run randomly. Watch for thirty minutes, and odds are you'll see one you recognize.
How can I see if my friend is in the roster?
Submit their name. You'll know instantly whether they've already been remembered — and if not, they'll be added.
What does it cost to submit a name?
Nothing. It never will. AIDSWatch exists so anyone can remember a lost life, a lost love.
Can I donate to AIDSWatch?
Only names. We don't want your dollars — but a donation to an AIDS prevention organization in our name would honor us more than any check could.
What can I do to help?
Spread the word. On World AIDS Day, pull the page up on any screen you pass — a laptop, a TV, a tablet left running in a shop window. Knowledge is power, and a screen no one's watching is a wasted one.