Understanding the history of AIDS is crucial for both honoring the past and shaping a better future. The AIDS epidemic, particularly its devastating impact on the LGBTQ+ community, is a stark reminder of the consequences of stigma, discrimination, and neglect. By learning about the struggles, resilience, and activism of those who lived through this crisis, we gain invaluable insights into the human cost of prejudice and the importance of fighting for social justice and healthcare equality. Remembering those we lost and acknowledging their pain ensures that their stories are not forgotten and that we continue to strive for a world free from the suffering they endured.
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic
By Randy Shilts
And the Band Played On is a meticulously researched book that chronicles the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the United States, exposing the political and social indifference that fueled its spread. Shilts’s work is a landmark piece of investigative journalism that captures the fear, frustration, and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community in the face of a devastating health crisis.
Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993
By Sarah Schulman
Sarah Schulman was one of the original members of ACT UP. Let the Record Show centers her work on the stories of women and people of color and their experiences with HIV/AIDS. “Let the Record Show” is more than just a historical account; it’s a testament to the power of activism and a roadmap for future generations fighting for social justice. Schulman vividly recounts ACT UP’s innovative tactics, including their demonstrations, media campaigns, and direct actions, showcasing their impact on policy, public perception, and the lives of people with AIDS. This powerful and insightful book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the AIDS crisis, LGBTQ+ activism, and the fight for healthcare equality.
How to Survive a Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS
By David France
How to Survive a Plague details the remarkable activism of groups like ACT UP and TAG, who challenged the government and the medical establishment to accelerate research and treatment for AIDS. This book is a testament to the power of collective action and a tribute to the unsung heroes who fought for their lives and the lives of others.
Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir
By Paul Monette
Borrowed Time is a searingly honest memoir that recounts Monette’s journey through grief and loss as he navigates the AIDS epidemic alongside his partner, Roger Horwitz. Borrowed Time is a deeply personal and moving reflection on love, mortality, and the human spirit in the face of unimaginable suffering.
My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story
By Abraham Verghese
In My Own Country, Abraham Verghese offers a poignant and intimate look at the AIDS epidemic through the lens of a rural community in the Smoky Mountains. As a young infectious disease doctor in Johnson City, Tennessee, Verghese found himself on the front lines of a crisis that shattered the town’s sense of isolation and forced it to confront the realities of a disease once considered an “urban problem.”
Verghese’s unique perspective as both an outsider and a skilled physician allowed him to connect with patients wary of local practitioners, offering them not only medical care but also empathy and understanding. “My Own Country” is a powerful testament to the human cost of the AIDS epidemic, exploring the fear, stigma, and resilience that shaped the lives of those affected in this conservative corner of America. Through compassionate storytelling and insightful observations, Verghese illuminates the medical and spiritual challenges faced by his patients and the community as a whole, creating a moving portrait of human connection amidst a devastating health crisis.
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes
By Tony Kushner
Angels in America is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play that complexly and ambitiously explores AIDS, sexuality, politics, and religion in 1980s America. Kushner’s masterpiece is a powerful and poetic meditation on identity, loss, and the search for meaning in a time of crisis.
The Normal Heart
By Larry Kramer
The Normal Heart is a semi-autobiographical play is a passionate and often angry indictment of the societal indifference and government inaction that fueled the AIDS crisis. Kramer’s work is a powerful call to action and a testament to the rage and frustration felt by many in the LGBTQ+ community during the early years of the epidemic.
Paris is Burning: A Portrait of the 1980s Drag Ball Scene
By Jennie Livingston & Lucas Hilderbrand
Paris is Burning is a documentary film (and accompanying book) that offers a glimpse into the vibrant and resilient world of New York City’s drag ball scene in the 1980s, a time when the AIDS epidemic was ravaging the community. Paris is Burning is a celebration of creativity, self-expression, and the power of chosen family. The documentary and book are the source material for the popular TV series, Pose.
My Fabulous Disease: Chronicles of a Gay Survivor
By Mark S. King
My Fabulous Disease is a memoir that offers a raw and honest account of living with HIV for over three decades. King’s writing is both humorous and poignant as he reflects on the challenges and triumphs of navigating life with a chronic illness in the face of stigma and discrimination.
Never Silent: ACT UP and My Life in Activism
By Peter Staley
Never Silent is memoir that provides an insider’s account of ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, and its pivotal role in the fight against the epidemic. Staley’s story is one of courage, defiance, and unwavering commitment to social justice.
