June 5, 1981: The Day The First Aids Victim Was Diagnosed “For Those Who Live and Died of H.I.V”

AIDS is a disease of such staggering numbers and tragic devastation; for the baby boom generation and those who came of sexuality after 1981, it is has changed our entire way of existing. We have watched helplessly as many friends, family members, icons especially in the early years wasted away before us. I have lost four friends to AIDS and three live with H.I.V. It is a global pandemic.60 million have have been infected, and 30 million have died. For about five million, costly anti-retroviral therapy has made their infection manageable. Although Africa is inhabited by just over 14.7% of the world’s population, it is estimated to have more than 88% of people living with HIV and 92% of all AIDS deaths in 2007; treatment is almost nonexistent.

Elizabeth Taylor will be remembered by some for her beauty, her husbands, her acting and stage performances, but for me her recent death on March 23rd, 2011 was a shattering blow not only to the world of entertainment but to AIDS Activism. The highlight of the Fragrance Foundation Awards, March 25, 2011 was when Elizabeth Taylor was inducted into the Fragrance Hall of Fame and the Fragrance Celebrity of the Year was re-named to The Elizabeth Taylor Fragrance Celebrity of the Year. Elizabeth Taylor was one fo the first celebrities to become an AIDS activist,

In Memorium:

Freddie Mercury- lead singer of Queen

Perry Ellis –fashion designer

Liberace -entertainer

Isaac Asimov- science fiction writer

Rock Hudson-actor

Tom Fogarty –singer, Creedance Clearwater revival

Alvin Ailey- dancer and founder of the first African American dance troupe

Rudolf Nureyev- dancer and founder of the first African American dance troupe

Arthur Ashe-First African American tennis player

Halston – Fashion Designer and celebrity

Herb Ritts- photographer

Keith Haring- Artist

Elizabeth Glaser- AIDS Activist

Willi Smith- Fashion designer

Tina Chow- model

James Merrill- Pulitzer prize winning poet and author of A Gay Person

Easy E- rap singer

Steve Rubell- founder of Studio 54

Robert Mappelthorpe-Artist

For those living with HIV we pray for a cure:

Magic Johnson- ex basketball player named to the All-stars twelve times

Greg Louganis-Olympic diver and gold medalist

Pedro Julio Serrano- first openly gay politician to take office in Puerto Rico

It is my wish today that every reader gives one dollar to the Elizabeth Taylor Foundation or the AIDS foundation of their choice. Since charity is personal tell us about someone you admired that you would like to be included in this memorial.

Today my facebook profile is a red ribbon. Join me.

“So much to do, so little done, such things to be”-Elizabeth Taylor

Michelyn Camen, Editor-In Chief

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8 comments

  • scentual healing says:

    I want to memorialize my best friend in college Mark Weinstein who died in 1992. I held his hand in a hostel before he died of pneumonia related to Aids.. and thank you for this post. Straight gay rich poor blood transfusions the disease doesn’t care

  • Joe says:

    This touches me deeply. Thank you for posting. I recommend the following wikipedia list of notable people with HIV. I was surprised by names on your list (Asimov) and this one, including the recently deceased Gil-Scott Heron.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HIV-positive_people
    May we also remember the non-notable, the anonymous, friends, family, strangers.
    I highly recommend the 2004 Oscar-nominated South African film Yesterday (http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Yesterday/70019749) for an African perspective; Africa is close to my heart and the ravaging of that continent by HIV makes me weep.
    May we be thankful for advances that have been made, and pray for a cure and vaccine. xoxo

  • Tama says:

    As one who lived in the heart of the Castro District from 1975 to 1986, I saw it all unfold. From my mom's loss of a great friend to a completely unidentified disease, to the posters in the drugstore windows of Kaposi's Sarcoma, the denial, grief, fear and hopelessness of those early days. I lost several, feared for many, now live with one who is living with it.
     
    Read "And the Band Played On", or watch it – it is right on.
     
    I would like to honor my first friend in San Francisco, Brad, who died after a terrible struggle. One of the most beautiful men I have known, in so many ways.
     
    We have come a long way with treatment, but still have a long way to go. A few years ago my housemate would have died, today he has to take a lot of medication but he is making it. We need an actual cure and vaccine.

  • chayaruchama says:

    It's been my privilege to help ease pain and suffering, as well as educate as many as I can; I'm blessed to work with passionate, tireless folk who will not give up.
    Sadly, folks don't realize that Infectious Disease departments- even in huge teaching hospitals-
    Have very little extra funding to cover many important projects.
    I was actually turned down by Human Resources for such a position, even though the chiefs of the department specifically asked for me-
    And I offered to take less pay.
    The budget couldn't afford it.
    UGH.

  • Aaron Potterman says:

    My heart goes out to all the people in my past that I personally watched wither away due to this disease.  Far too many talented, wonderful individuals are now lost forever, but, thankfully, many of them will never be forgotten.  Having experiencing the trauma of AIDS first hand at a very young age, I learned to fear it and, moreover, to do everything I could do to understand it.  Several close friends of mine died too soon, not because they had to, but because the world at large could do nothing to support them.  Being there with them and their close family and friends during this troubling time is something I will NEVER forget.  To see the hope in their eyes with every new medical development was very moving.  Unfortunately, many of my friends lost their struggle before treatment was readily available and relatively affordable.  I think about them frequently and thank God they were a part of life.  They made me a better man and I thank them for it in so many ways almost everyday.  May they rest in peace. 
    I applaud Michelyn for bringing attention to the wonderful Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.  I have been a supporter from as long as I could donate.  If you haven't already done so, please give. 

  • Tonya Rodriguez says:

    thank you to those who help raise awareness about this. My closest friend has HIV and i try to help raise awareness and i do strongly support those who want to help find a cure ust like cancer. buit most people dont reconize that this is jsut as highly important as cancer. but im glad you all do. thank you

  • Patricia Harrington says:

    I lost many close friends and I will never get over
    the battle they fought and the government and science failed them! I miss my friends everyday
    and love them so much!