VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Local non-profit mourns people lost to AIDS, and celebrates life.
Charlene Nomeny: The CDC reports over 100,000 deaths from AIDS from 1981 to 1990, the beginning of the epidemic, and many, many more went unreported. At ACR Health’s commemoration event, people reflect on their experiences in those early days. One is Les K. Wright, a queer historian, author, and 72-year-old with AIDS.
Les Wright: I participated in several peer-led People live in the AIDS support groups. I was the sole survivor of all those groups.
Nomeny: Michael DeSalvo is one of the founders of Syracuse’s Friends of Dorothy House, who housed and cared for AIDS patients in the 90s. Their first ever guest was named David.
Michael DeSalvo: First night, David was in the house and I got him undressed. It was shocking.
Nomeny: David died just before Christmas. But this event isn’t just about memorializing those who’ve passed. It’s about life, hope, and resistance. It’s about the medicine, research, and awareness that have improved life for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Despite the fact that HIV stigma and prejudice against queer people initially impeded AIDS research, advancements in medicine have still emerged.
ACR Health: Like people, we have a medication that will prevent you from getting it while you’re having sex and then prevent you from getting it after a possible exposure. This is amazing. We are in different times here.
Nomeny: Other treatments allow people with HIV or AIDS to live long lives. However, threats to the Affordable Care Act may limit people’s access to these treatments. The end of the government shutdown did not include a long-term agreement to provide ACA subsidies. DeSalvo says the Trump administration’s funding cuts to global AIDS prevention medicine shows a willingness to do it here, too.
DeSalvo: It’s just such an evil thought to send us back to the days of such loss and grief.
Nomeny: From SALTspace, I’m Charlene Nomeny.
December 1st is World AIDS Day. There were over 100,000 deaths from AIDS from 1981 to 1990, the beginning of the epidemic according to the CDC. Many more went unreported.
At ACR Health’s commemoration event, people reflected on their experiences in those early days. One is Les K. Wright, a queer historian, author, and 72-year-old with HIV.
“I participated in several peer-led people living with AIDS support groups. I was the sole survivor of all these groups,” Wright said.
Michael DeSalvo is one of the founders of Syracuse’s Friends of Dorothy House, which housed and cared for AIDS patients in the 90s. Their first ever guest was named David.
“The first night David was in the house, and I got him undressed, it was shocking,” DeSalvo said.
David died just before Christmas.
The event wasn’t just a memorial for those who’ve passed. It celebrated the research, medicine, and awareness that have improved life for people affected by HIV/AIDS.
Despite the fact that HIV stigma and prejudice against queer people initially impeded AIDS research, advancements in medicine have still emerged.
“We have a medication that will prevent you from getting it while you’re having sex and then prevent you from getting it after a possible exposure. This is amazing. We are in different times here,” ACR Health specialist Alysia Oriolo said. Medications like PrEP and PEP prevent infection or stop people from contracting HIV after exposure.
Other treatments allow people with HIV or AIDS to live long lives.
However, threats to the Affordable Care Act may limit people’s access to these treatments. The end of the government shutdown did not include a long-term agreement to provide ACA subsidies. DeSalvo says the Trump administration’s cuts to international aid, which includes funding for AIDS medication, show he can do it here, too.
“Just such an evil thought to send us back to the days of such loss and grief,” DeSalvo said.
ACR Health provides resources for people living with HIV/AIDS or those at risk. For more information, visit their website.