Impact of AIDs

Question 1

What Is It

Answer 1

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Transmitted through sexual activity, contaminated needles, and blood transfusions (seen as ‘gay disease’)
Virtual death sentence: 5,000 died by 1985, over 46,000 by 1989
1989 - over 80,000 confirmed cases

Question 2

Conservative Reaction

Answer 2

Mainly struck male homosexuals + intravenous drug users
Middle America associated it with immorality
Some claimed the ‘gay plague’ was a punishment from God, Pat Buchanan said ‘nature is exacting awful retribution’

Question 3

Homosexual Reaction

Answer 3

Scared many homosexuals - remained in the closet
1985 - 3/4 of Americans didn’t know any homosexuals
But anxiety accelerated activism - 1987 ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) followed up pride parade with demonstration for equal rights

Question 4

Ryan White Care Act

Answer 4

Haemophiliac who contracted AIDS through blood transfusion
National spokesperson, helped to change public perceptions
Died 1990, led to Ryan White Care Act - $220 million to help victims

Question 5

Reagan and AIDS

Rock Hudson

Answer 5

Rock Hudson (Reagan’s friend) died from AIDS in October 1985
Surgeon-General Koop suggested 3 remedies - Abstinence, monogamy, condoms
Also called for sex education in schools

Question 6

Reagan and AIDS

Inaction

Answer 6

Refused to advocate condoms or speak to Congress
Budget required cut to AIDS research
Inaction had support of conservatives e.g Phyllis Schlafly
So HIV infection greater than in Western Europe