AIDS has been noted as one of the most controversial pandemics in history. Originating from primates, this virus, also known as HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, spreads through sexual contact or contact with infected blood. For months, the sickness is basically asymptomatic, giving the carrier the opportunity to spread the pathogen through either blood donations, sharing needles (i.e. injecting drugs), or having sex, completely unaware of the harm he or she is spreading. This virus causes immune deficiencies that can lead to lethal cases of certain diseases such as pneumonia. As the film in class described, the virus almost acts like a creature with “nine head” whereas when you cut off one head, the virus continues to operate. It is able to destroy the immune system and multiply within its host as it is about 150 times smaller than that of the white blood cell it attacks.

The virus was labeled as a “new unexplained disease in gay men” but was soon discovered to affect more than just the population of gay men. Drug users were vulnerable, especially with the sharing of needles and syringes, as well as individuals giving or receiving blood transfusions, because the virus was not widely known when it first began to spread. The disease instilled fear and questions of moral, along with a huge shield of deniability.

Reagan was especially distant from the seriousness of the disease. People of the communities most vulnerable to the disease had trouble trusting the CDC government organization because of their mistrust of the government itself. HIV is one of the most political diseases in history; activists fighting for attention from government officials and medical professions were literally fighting for their lives. Reagan’s secretary commented, “I really don’t think another dollar would make a difference… [HIV is] not a problem money could solve.” Reagan and his team cut funding and budgets to all government involvement, including the CDC, which lead to no money for traveling.

Bumper stickers such as “AIDS- it’s killing all the right people” and thoughts about people’s own tax dollars going to help those affected by aids became popular among the conservative, republican population of America. They saw it as a way of God intentionally wiping out sinners. Reagan, specifically, turned his head away from and practically ignored the situation.

However, the death of the first famous person from AIDS, Rock Hudson, led to more of a national consciousness of the disease. It could officially no longer be ignored or denied. People were frightened and ignorant; people began wearing rubber gloves everywhere because they didn’t understand how the disease was spread. The government and health organizations did not distribute information or education about the disease at first. People with AIDS or HIV were labeled, judged, mistreated, and even exiled from their schools and work. Information should have been spread sooner about how the disease was spread (not by casual contact).

HIV affects everyone from baby newborns to grown men and women. It became the job of families and friends of those affected, as well as officials, to fight the prejudice of the disease. Drugs to aid the symptoms and knowing one’s personal status, as well as a sense of hope, will help society concur the sickness. Challenges of prejudice and denial still exist among some people within the United States, but attitudes have improved. Awareness has limited the ability of the organism to drastically spread further and further within the US.

Help received: class notes from film