Challenges Facing AIDS Activism in America :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Challenges face up help Activism in America horizontal before HIV/ aid world-class showed up in the United States in 1980-1981, lesbians were greatly stigmatized inwardly American society. The homophobia that already existed was only exacerbated by the fact that the overwhelming absolute bulk of those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during the first few years of the epidemic were homosexual males (so much so in fact that AIDS was originally called the braw-Related Immuno neediness). The US male homosexual universe found itself confronted with a theme epidemic that was receiving zero content attention. The political activism of the gay male population in the 1980s and early 1990s made significant proceed towards educating American society about limiting the risk of disease transmitting through safe-sex practices and clean-needle exchanges, combating discrimination of people with AIDS (PWAs) and homosexuals, and ensuring that adequate health administer was provided for PWAs. But no w it seems that the fight against AIDS is right back where it began. Homosexuals no longer account for the highest rate of new HIV/AIDS infections, and as a result, the urgency of their political activism has subsided. The population in which the vast majority of new HIV/AIDS infections occurs is the poor minority population, a extremely stigmatized sector of American society. Once again, the AIDS epidemic is receiving zero national attention because those most affected are not a occasion of the national dialogue. Whereas male homosexuals found themselves in positions of power and wealth in the first decade of the epidemic, this new face of AIDS has little in terms of financial and political resources. It is up to other AIDS activists to carry their voice and political weight to advocate for the welfare of these impoverished minorities.Even before AIDS surfaced the US gay male population had last in grass-roots political activism from the sexual revolution of the 1970s, and just as the first rumors of a gay cancer were circulating in San Francisco and New York, the Gay Mens Health Crisis (GMHC) was formed in January 1982 to provide compassionate bang to New Yorkers with AIDS, educate to keep people healthy, and advocate for fair and utile public policies (GMHC 1). AIDS first came into the public eye in 1985 when careen Hudson, a famous 1960s Hollywood actor, publicly admitted to having AIDS and by and by died later that year. But after five years of unsuccessful lobbying, AIDS was still perceived as a gay mens health crisis and not an american (or international) health crisis.