Reflection 3: "The Gay Disease"—On the '80s AIDS Crisis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, doctors began reporting sharp increases in rare types of pneumonia, cancer, and other illnesses in gay men in New York City and Los Angeles. By 1983, a new virus—HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)—had been identified. And the syndrome resulting from infection of HIV was called AIDS. As public health officials began to piece together the AIDS puzzle, the disease was already devastating primarily gay male populations in major US cities. Compounding an already tense situation were the public’s escalating fears and misconceptions about the virus—and those who carried it. AIDS was quickly dubbed a “gay disease,” and those inflicted with the virus, already no strangers to homophobia, faced further discrimination. By the '90s, the scope of AIDS grew to include heterosexuals, and a new consciousness about the disease slowly arose. On the eve of the 35th annual World AIDS Day, we will look back at AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. 

What are your impressions of that time? And what do you believe that era can teach us about diseases and discrimination today? How has American society progressed since those days, and what has remained the same?

Choose at least two of the following for your discussion:

• "HIV in the '80s: 'People Didn't Want to Kiss You on the Cheek'" (CNN)
• "[Serious] Gay Men Who Lived Through the HIV Epidemic of the 1980s, What Was it Like?" (Reddit) 
• "Hollywood's Struggle to Deal with AIDS in the '80s" (CNN)
• "How To Demand A Medical Breakthrough: Lessons From The AIDS Fight" (NPR)
  
• "Remembering Ryan White, the Teen Who Fought Against the Stigma of AIDS" (PBS NewsHour)

Requirements:

• MLA Style, including works cited
• Approx. 500 words

Submission window:  Fri 12.1 - Mon 12.4