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. At the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert held at Wembley Stadium, London on Easter Sunday 1992, more than 100,000 red ribbons were distributed among the audience by Red Ribbon International, with performers such as George Michael wearing one. 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. To symbolize the United States' commitment to combat the world AIDS epidemic through its landmark PEPFAR program, Steven M. Levine, a communications aid in President George W. Bush's administration, proposed that the administration display a AIDS ribbon on the White House's iconic North Portico on World AIDS Day 2007. The display, now an annual tradition across three administrations, quickly garnered attention, as it was the first banner, sign or symbol to prominently hang from the White House since Abraham Lincoln lived in the building. 2021 Myanmar coup d'etat In the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, healthcare workers in Myanmar launched a red ribbon campaign (ဖဲကြိုးနီလှုပ်ရှားမှု). The color red is associated with the National League for Democracy, the incumbent political party that won the 2020 elections. Civil servants and workers across Myanmar, including union-level ministries, have adopted the red ribbon as a symbol of opposition to the military regime. Fair award At fairs and competitions in the U.K. and Canada, a red ribbon is awarded to the winning competitor (first place). It is used for second place in the United States for fairs and competitions. In the U.S. 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, while superior projects and exhibits are awarded blue ribbons (which are second-place ribbons in the U.K. and Canada). See also Medals of Honor (Japan) Order of the Bath