Those who follow The AIDS Memorial (@theaidsmemorial) on Instagram – all 26.4k and counting – know how powerful and poignant the account is. One can’t help but be moved by daily tributes to those who succumbed to AIDS by people who loved them. These can be personal, beautiful, heart-wrenching, and painful – and most of the time, they are all at once. This digital archive allows us to reflect and remember a time of crisis and a disease for which a cure has yet to be found.

Behind this important record of a time of crisis is Stuart. Based in Scotland, he chooses to maintain a private profile in order to put the spotlight on those who lost their fight to AIDS. His hashtag is, after all, #whatisrememberedlives.

In honor of World AIDS Day, we checked in with Stuart about the account, the importance of the work he does with it and what he hopes the impact is.

What triggered you to launch @theaidsmemorial (TAM)?

I have always been fascinated in the lives of those who have sadly succumbed to AIDS – not just by the famous names that have been covered extensively in the media, but also the unknown names cut down before they could ever reach their potential. The secrecy, the guilt, the shame, the bravery and tragedy that surrounds the AIDS epidemic, all this recent history with so many gone but forgotten…I wanted to instantly share the stories that I knew about but at the same time learn and uncover more about those whom I did not know about. Instagram seemed to me to be the perfect medium in which to achieve this mainly due to its accessibility and reach.

What is your aim with this Instagram account?

I learn a lot from each post, and I want to share that knowledge and play a part in helping to keep their legacy alive. I want as many as people to follow TAM as possible in order not only for these remarkable lives to be remembered, but to hopefully encourage more people to get in contact with me to allow me to share their stories.

 You have mentioned that hitting the ‘like’ button carries a different meaning for you. Can you elaborate on this?

I often receive messages from followers saying they feel uncomfortable hitting the “LIKE” button when they read a story on TAM. However, I highlight to them the positive impact of doing to. I consider a “LIKE” on a particular post as an acknowledgement, a way of saying “WE REMEMBERED YOU, YOU‘RE NOT FORGOTTEN.”  It definitely also provides solace to those left behind who submitted their story to TAM.  Loved ones consistently contact me overwhelmed with gratitude when they see the reaction to their post. It’s like a cleansing for them and cathartic to have this outlet where they can share their grief – when in some cases, they never had the opportunity do so.

Were you at all surprised by the support you have received, especially from the fashion community?

Yes of course. It is such an honor that TAM has so many distinguished followers from the fashion community. The support they have given me with posts is amazing. In the beginning, TAM featured only stories about people who had always interested me, and a lot of them actually happened to be part the fashion industry; from Joe Macdonald to Rob Yoh, Tina Chow to Gia Carangi, Bill King to Tony Viramontes, Patrick Kelly to Willi Smith, Franco Moschino to Perry Ellis. Gradually, as TAM attracted more followers, I received message from personalities in the fashion industry who actually worked with these amazingly talented people. Through them, I was able to learn of individuals that I hadn’t known about previously whom I went on to feature on TAM. Crucially, these initial posts seemed to be the trigger for everyday folk to contact me to tell me their own stories about their loved ones and their history, which helped TAM to grow into what it is today.

Of all the tributes/memories you received, is there one that particularly poignant stands out in your memory? Which one and why?

All the stories mean something to me. I am moved daily. Each one is like a precious gem and I’m very protective of them. I usually say that I couldn’t honestly possibly pick one that stands out because there are just too many.

However, there was a post recently that went viral and was picked up the press. Steve recalled his time with his friend John back in the day—dancing, having fun men about town, then the plague hits. His vibrant-happy-go-lucky John is diagnosed with AIDS but decided to end his life during a phone call with Steve. John wanted to end his life on his own terms. Heartbreaking.

What kind of impact do you wish for with @theaidsmemorial?

There are still those who suffer PTSD from having lived during this period. It’s too painful to relive the past. Stigma is alive in 2017 and it is still a daunting prospect acknowledging that a family member has died of AIDS even though it may have occurred 20 years or so ago. I hope that TAM can help break down the stigma while providing some sort of therapy for those still grieving.  The account is just as important as a reminder to remember those who have passed as it is to those those left behind. I also see TAM as a tool to educate the younger generation. It is shocking to me that young people today have no clue about a generation of artists, activists and every day folk who were just wiped out.

Furthermore, there are so many stories I have received that tell of those who, while dying of AIDS, were scared that they would be forgotten. This has stuck with me. AIDS is not a subject that anyone wants to be reminded of, but everyone leaves behind a legacy after they die. Leaving behind a legacy is important even if you have died of AIDS. Every time I post, I use the hash tag “What is Remembered Lives” to accompany all posts. To me, it evokes the comfort in knowing that those who succumbed to AIDS will not be erased from our memories. I want to TAM show the face of AIDS: those who perished, disowned, forgotten to be remembered. History doesn’t record itself, and I feel a sense of duty to make that happen in some way.