Organized by a partnership among amfAR, UNAIDS, the World AIDS Campaign, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Light for Rights ceremonies were held around the world on December 1. The events involved the dimming of public lights, followed by their return to full brightness.

At Washington Square Park in New York City, dignitaries and speakers included UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole, New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn, actress and UNAIDS goodwill ambassador Naomi Watts, actress and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF Susan Sarandon, amfAR ambassador Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Award winner Lillias White and other special guests watched as the floodlights illuminating the Washington Square Arch were extinguished and then restored.

Marquee lights of major Broadway theaters, the Chrysler Building, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center and Rockefeller Center also were dimmed.