When my lover got cryptococcal meningitis that month(!), we were both diagnosed as HIV-positive within weeks; he died seven months later.
Half a lifetime later, I'm still here.
Inevitably, as the history of the AIDS pandemic isn't necessarily taught in schools. I had to learn about it myself as an adult (though we did at least get the usual "condoms are important" stuff at school)
When I was that grade level I would mention when teaching 80s that my mom was one of the quilter participants of the DC AIDS quilt. However administrative leaders always wanted to retaliate when you taught hard history. They still try and stop you today.
Even those trying to raise the issue were laughing at it. That’s how bad it was. It’s when you read the transcripts like this you realise how brave those who stood up for us were. “I finally thought to myself, 'Bitch, do something yourself.’”
Reagan's failure to acknowledge AIDS and the problems with HIV for so long as so many died was reprehensible. I did not think much of his presidency but this was a particular low point.
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Half a lifetime later, I'm still here.
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We should go back in time and give that monkey a gun