Mentor/s
Dr. Suzanne Marmo-Roman
Participation Type
Paper Talk
Abstract
The human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic began in the early 1980s. This was a socially bound epidemic (Wright et al., 2016) rooted in both the then taboo nature of the homosexual community and a lack of understanding the causes of the disease with science (McClintock, 2017). This lack of understanding and fear that occurred in this time were not helped by the Department of Public Health Services originally naming the disease as gay-related immune deficiency (GRID)(Witcher, 2019). The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power or ACT UP was formed in the 1980s in response to the frustration that the gay community felt because AIDS was not being taken seriously by the media or government officials. ACT UP is a “non-partisan group united in anger and committed to direct action to end AIDS.”(ACT UP NY | End AIDS!, 1987)
ACT UP used many tools to protest and fight for a change in legislation and medical treatment. ACT UP relied heavily on the arts, visual media, and how media covered protests. They had four major targets; mass media, corporations, advertising, and the arts (REED, 2019). ACT UP overcame many obstacles to become successful, mainly that they were speaking out for marginalized groups including homosexuals, intravenous drug users, and sex workers. This meant that ACT UP had to bring taboo topics out into the public sphere and force people to listen to what they had to say. They did this through many avenues including public political shaming of officials and companies whose inaction lead to many deaths of people with AIDS, and demonstrations and “die-ins” where protesters made a point about the amount of people dying and the harm that was being done by others inaction (REED, 2019).
College and Major available
Exercise Science BS
Location
Digital Commons
Start Day/Time
5-5-2021 1:00 PM
End Day/Time
5-5-2021 4:00 PM
ACTing Up to Change the World
Digital Commons
The human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic began in the early 1980s. This was a socially bound epidemic (Wright et al., 2016) rooted in both the then taboo nature of the homosexual community and a lack of understanding the causes of the disease with science (McClintock, 2017). This lack of understanding and fear that occurred in this time were not helped by the Department of Public Health Services originally naming the disease as gay-related immune deficiency (GRID)(Witcher, 2019). The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power or ACT UP was formed in the 1980s in response to the frustration that the gay community felt because AIDS was not being taken seriously by the media or government officials. ACT UP is a “non-partisan group united in anger and committed to direct action to end AIDS.”(ACT UP NY | End AIDS!, 1987)
ACT UP used many tools to protest and fight for a change in legislation and medical treatment. ACT UP relied heavily on the arts, visual media, and how media covered protests. They had four major targets; mass media, corporations, advertising, and the arts (REED, 2019). ACT UP overcame many obstacles to become successful, mainly that they were speaking out for marginalized groups including homosexuals, intravenous drug users, and sex workers. This meant that ACT UP had to bring taboo topics out into the public sphere and force people to listen to what they had to say. They did this through many avenues including public political shaming of officials and companies whose inaction lead to many deaths of people with AIDS, and demonstrations and “die-ins” where protesters made a point about the amount of people dying and the harm that was being done by others inaction (REED, 2019).
Students' Information
Corey Giarrusso, Exercise Science major, Honors minor Class of 2021