AIDS EPIDEMIC

Grace Spellman
Contemporary American History 153
April 17th, 2017
 The AIDS epidemic during the 1980s was a wake-up call to America. It was arguably the

most underestimated virus during this time. It stumped the whole country, doctors were just as

dumbfounded as the patients were. While the majority of victims were homosexual, various

questions arose, like why is this virus only killing gay men?, is it a gay disease?, and is

there a cure?. Initially, none of these concerns could be answered, and since Americans couldnt

get a definite response, they came to their own conclusions. With AIDS spreading at an

unimaginable rate, it was only a matter of time for hospitals to medically catch up. In the

meantime, gays and straights either became united or divided during this fight to stop the virus.

The AIDS epidemic in America brought forth ignorant stereotypes, as well as new knowledge on

the virus, and together it formed a revolutionary battle against the AIDS disease.

At first, the disease AIDS was virtually unknown to the American community, but

during the 1980s it became a medical term that would terrify the country. Most of the victims

being homosexual. Pre-AIDS epidemic, the gay community was slowly flourishing in America,

gay clubs, bars, and even bath houses were open for gays to mingle. But during the epidemic,

due to popular belief, those gay-friendly establishments were just breeding grounds for AIDS.

More popularly the bath houses, where homosexuals were able to have casual sex with each

other. The public persecuted gay men, they saw this as them having orgies, spreading the

disease, all because they were extremely horny people1. The ignorance continued, only

worsening the situation. While everyone was scared of the disease, the closeted gays were

probably the most fearful. They would suffer the most, since for them to get tested for AIDS,

they would not only be coming out to the public, but with the chance they might actually carry

the disease, they could lose their job as well as be even more publicly shamed. Since the gay

stereotypes relating to AIDS were blossoming in American society, more people became too

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scared to get tested, because in the public eye if you had the disease you were not pitied, but

instead looked down upon. Until the famous actor Rock Hudson died, of AIDS. A huge celebrity

at the time, who had kept his secret gay lifestyle to himself. When the news broke out that Rock

Hudson died of this disease, people were stunned, wondering how could such a dirty disease

infect one of Hollywood's most respected actors2? One of the main reasons Rock died was

because of the negative way the world reacted to other gay men being diagnosed, he didn't want

the public to do the same to him. People realized this disease was serious, and the attention it was

gaining was not helping the situation.

During the 1980s, AIDS definitely rocked the medical world. It was not until 1984, the

National Cancer Institution announced they had figured out the cause of AIDS, with more

research, they had hoped to find a vaccine in the next two years3. By the end of that year, almost

8,000 people were diagnosed with AIDS in America, and almost 4,000 had died already because

of the disease. People panicked, doctors pushed for everyone to be tested. As more time went by,

more people were diagnosed with AIDS. What started out as a gay disease, became much more

than that. Cases of women, drug-addicts, children, and even babies were filed carrying AIDS.

Proving everyone could get this disease, and everyone could possibly spread it too. The facts of

the disease became prominent, overriding the stereotypes that were taking over American

society.

With the gay community losing its members to the AIDS virus, families and loved ones

knew something had to be done. With Ronald Reagan as the president during this time, he did

not mention AIDS until 1985, which put a damper on the whole scenario4. People were

divided, on the defense against gay people, and them spreading the disease. Petitions were made

to close gay clubs and bathhouses, which eventually was an ending result5. Others were fearful of

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their own lives and their children's. Ryan White, a young boy who was diagnosed with AIDS

because of contaminated blood products, was banned from his school in Indiana because the

parents were afraid for their children's lives6. It became a never-ending battle, shouldn't we be

helping these people instead of victimizing them? The battle of the disease continued, but as

more people were educated on AIDS, the more understanding they became.

In conclusion, the disease known as AIDS is still a problem we deal with today. But with

more knowledge on it now, we can better prevent it from spreading. Back in the 1980s it wasnt

so simple, similar to the bubonic plague that happened in Europe during the 1300s, nobody had

any idea what was killing all these people, and more importantly how to maintain it7.

Consequently, because of the lack of understanding on the disease, people formed their own

ideas of AIDS, and the stereotypes that haunted the victims were born. Doctors desperately tried

to calm this epidemic, which in time they did, but at first it was very difficult. The truth behind

the disease eventually overshadowed the ignorance. It split American society in the fight against

AIDS, you were either sympathetic towards it or apathetic. It was a strenuous period of time for

everybody. The AIDS epidemic in America brought forth ignorant stereotypes, as well as new

knowledge on the virus, and together it formed a revolutionary battle against the AIDS disease.

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 Annotated Bibliography

1. "History of HIV and AIDS Overview." AVERT. AVERT, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 17 Apr.

2017.

This credible source by AVERT, a website dedicated to give information as well as

educate others on HIV/AIDS. It displays a timeline that gives an overview on the disease. With a

brief description of each year, with the significance behind it. It thoroughly explains the history

of AIDS, before the epidemic, all the way to present day. It talks about how it affected the world,

America, the culture, and the victims.

2. Jackson, Xavier, James Benoist, Adam Koski, Jayden McLeod, Ted E., Joe Oliveto, and

Robin Warder. "5 Dark Realities Of Living Through The 1980s AIDS Crisis." Cracked.com.

N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.

This reputable source by various authors, talks about five specific occurrences during the

AIDS epidemic. Specifically, the worst ones, including gay stereotypes, talk of gay concentration

camps, mass deaths, unavoidable deaths/ no hope, and the medical research trying to find a cure.

Dark Realities refers to the situations that couldn't be avoided during this time. How the

scariest moments were the most effective.

3. Cannon, Carl M. "Ronald Reagan and AIDS: Correcting the Record." RealClearPolitics. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.

This source by Carl Cannon, discusses the AIDS epidemic in America in correlation to

Ronald Reagan. It explains how during this harsh time Reagan contributed to the negativity, by

refusing to mention AIDS until four years into the epidemic, and giving his personal thoughts on
 the matter. But Reagan turned that all around by proving to the public he was not against

gays, and the disease needed more knowledge on it then it had. Since like every other American,

Regan was new to the idea of AIDS and was learning about it just like everyone else. This article

gives information about gay activists talking to Reagan about the matter, and how people felt

indifferent towards the President during this controversial time.

4. Smith, Lee. "Rock Hudson 30 Years after Death: The Impact on AIDS." CNN. Cable News

Network, 01 Oct. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.

This credible source by Lee Smith, explains the importance of Rock Hudsons death. Not

just for the Gay community but for the AIDS epidemic as well. During the epidemic, it was a

very hard time for the gays, especially homosexuals. People were opposed to the gays and

blamed them for AIDS, they were thought as dirty, horny human beings. But when news broke

out about Rock Hudson's death, the world opened their eyes. He was one of the most reputable

actors in Hollywood, he was gay, and he died of AIDS. It was a revelation.

Endnotes
1 Jackson, Xavier, James Benoist, Adam Koski, Jayden McLeod, Ted E., Joe Oliveto, and Robin

Warder. "5 Dark Realities Of Living Through The 1980s AIDS Crisis." Cracked.com. N.p., n.d. Web.

17 Apr. 2017.

Smith, Lee. "Rock Hudson 30 Years after Death: The Impact on AIDS." CNN. Cable News Network,

01 Oct. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.

3
"History of HIV and AIDS Overview." AVERT. AVERT, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.

Cannon, Carl M. "Ronald Reagan and AIDS: Correcting the Record." RealClearPolitics. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Apr. 2017.

5
"History of HIV and AIDS Overview." AVERT. AVERT, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.

6
"History of HIV and AIDS Overview." AVERT. AVERT, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.
7

Jackson, Xavier, James Benoist, Adam Koski, Jayden McLeod, Ted E., Joe Oliveto, and Robin Warder.

"5 Dark Realities Of Living Through The 1980s AIDS Crisis." Cracked.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr.

2017