This month , Larry Kramer would have been 85. He died last week. In the early 1980’s a young man was reading an essay called “1,112 and Counting. “ That young man then age 23 was me. It provoked so much emotion. Anger, fury and rage over a misunderstood disease affected gay men called GRIDS ( Gay Related Immune Deficiency), now called AIDS. It created fear , sadness and anger. Anger over a political President who was doing nothing about these men dying both in San Francisco and New York City. I watched my friends die- countless young talented men. He brought AIDS to the forefront. His semi autobiographical play “ Normal Heart’ brought tears to my eyes . In 2014, then adapted into a HBO film allowed a generation of young gay men to experience what we went through. He co founded GMHC ( Gay Men’s Health Crisis) which was a leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy. He is a man that WE should never forget. He changed the ‘face’ of AIDS
The number of AIDS death in the beginning were staggering. Globally there are 32.7-44 million living with HIV at the end of 2018. 32 million people have died of HIV.
Today we have another pandemic, COVID 19 where more than 100,000 have died in a short time. I feel by August 2020 there will be 125-130,000 deaths.
Please continue to wear face mask and practice social distancing