The red ribbon folded to form a bow is the international symbol of the fight against AIDS .
The "Red Ribbon" appeared for the first time at the 1991 Tony Awards, thanks to the actor Jeremy Irons who performed it to raise public awareness on the issue of AIDS.
The origin of the symbol is attributed to a New York artist who would have sent the project to the "Visual AIDS Artist Caucus". Its shape can not only evoke the A of AIDS, but represents, according to the Red Ribbon Foundation, solidarity with HIV-positive and AIDS patients. In reality, the idea of the bow-brooch had a precedent: in the spring of 1991, yellow ribbons folded to form a buttonhole spread in the American streets, in honor of American soldiers engaged in the Gulf war.
The success of this symbol it became more widespread in 1992, on the occasion of the London concert dedicated to the memory of Freddie Mercury, the soloist of Queen, who died the previous year for AIDS-related infections: over 100, 000 red ribbons were distributed in the audience at Wembley Stadium.
