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Between 1997-1993, I ran a project in the North East called Leather Force 2000 (North East AIDS Outreach, inc.) Hiv prevention for leathermen and the S/M crowd. I admired and learned from Act-Up. They were great!
I made the film, The Last One, Unfolding the AIDS Memorial Quilt, 12 years ago. It explores the history of HIV/AIDS through the AIDS Memorial Quilt. It is a beautiful film that brings to life the story of the early days and the developing devastation into the American population. We have just made it available through Amazon. I hope others will view it so we never forget.
I was a patient of Dr. Gottlieb for some years prior to moving out of Los Angeles. He always put patient care first. I am also a Veteran and was followed at the LA Veterans Hospital. So I had 2 docs at the same time Dr. Gottlieb and Dr. Goetz. Before I had him as my doctor, I had several negative experiences with so called specialist who were trying to make a lot of money. Some of the physicians at the VA hospital at the beginning, were prejudiced against positive pt., (Iranians & Asians).
This guy sounds like a total narcissist. And defending Reagan? Jeezus, give me a break.
1981. Worked at ScheringPlough- Clinical Research. It was not called AIDS then. It was called GRID - Gay-Related Immune Disorder. At Schering, we were investigating the effect of alpha-interferon on these patients. Of course then we learned it wasn't only found in gay men. One of the best projects I ever worked on. Then we found it worked in Kaposi's Sarcoma! So glad to have worked at S-P. Happy that things have changed, but still not enough. Got to work with Dr. Gottlieb and colleagues.
I was working on HIV drug development for big pharma during the bad days.. and even I, who was terrified of ACT-UP, was ready to join them. And even though they haunted us, and made our lives hell at times, most of us came to appreciate their efforts and secretly support them against our management. In the very long term, ACT-UP has been responsible for vastly improving pharma, the FDA and healthcare in general. It was the gay community that saved all of us in the end. Thank you.
I was a third year medical student at UCSF in June of '81 I began my first clinical rotation, internal medicine, as San Francisco General a week after that paper was published. I was at one of the Grounds Zero.
Peter Cashman
I’m so glad Michael has called out some folks out on their revisionist & sloppy history. Yes Elizabeth was involved in the HIV/AIDS community before the Rock Hudson drama and AmFAR. But the media and too many others keep on with the myth. Marc Christian was a terribly nice guy. Got to know him and his partner and he went to ACT UP/LA meetings. To his lasting discredit Randy knew the Gaetan Dugas “Patient Zero” thing was bullshit! It sold books & newspapers like the hideous New York Post.
June 17, 2024 • Los Angeles