Gay Men's AIDS Forum (GMAF) is dedicated to the memory of John De Wettre, a young knife-smith from Ghent, who was burned alive at dusk on 11th September 1292 after a show-trial ordered by Pope Gregory X. His ritualistic killing was attended by a mob worked up to a frenzy by the Roman Catholic clergy of Ghent.

John's murder was the first incidence of the slaughter of a gay man, by the Christian Church, simply for the "sin" of being gay. This murder was followed in the following five centuries by countless thousands more being killed for no other reason than being gay.

John, 29, took two hours to die as the flames kept going out. He watched his legs blacken and fall off, as his torso then slid down the stake unsupported. He died in the flames his last memories being the jeers and boos of the vast crowd.

John de Wettre's descendants today feature amongst them one of GMAF's members. Having studied the historical records documenting John's murder, in the Vatican archives, the charity has now pledged to do everything in its power to protect gay men today from murderous homophobia, criminal religious bigotry and indiscriminate slaughter in the name of "god" and to support gay men psychologically and spiritually in their arduous journey through life.