How did we respond to the AIDs Crisis?
This page intends to discuss how various stakeholders responded to the AIDs crisis. How were peoplen talking about the crisis? How did those who were impacted respond?
Media Coverage
To the right, you'll see a video montage of news clips from the beginning of the AIDs crisis. The first clip is thought to be the first mention of AIDs on television.
Community Reponse
The People With Aids, an association to support those personally impacted, wrote and published the Denver Principles in 1983. They not only list the rights they believe those diagnosed with AIDs deserve, but also how to best support those with AIDs.
From medical facilities, to art spaces, to schools and community centers, the archive below explores the physical environments that were important to those impacted by the crisis. They represent a political resistance, grief, and a community that persisted.
The Federal Response
The AIDs crisis began while Ronald Reagan was president of the United States. Reagan did not publicly address the crisis until 1985 during a press conference. However, it wasn't until 1987 that Reagan addressed it through a major policy speech. The lack of action and support from the federal government, coupled with the spread of misinformation, led to the deaths of many individuals. Marginalized communities were impacted at higher rates, most likely due to limited access to helpful resources.
