Aids Epidemic In The 1980's

In the 1980s the AIDS epidemic greatly affected the American population, especially the gay population. This started a huge division and segregation towards this specific group of Americans. They were looked down upon and abused, and most importantly refused any sort of treatment or help with their AIDS disease by the FDA. At a time when being gay was not accepted, an epidemic hit the country causing a greater controversy in America. The AIDS epidemic, or what was referred to as the “gay disease,” had taken the lives of many Americans. A group of people organized a campaign called, ACT UP to fight for their rights as gays and as humans. ACT UP was a campaign that was created to improve the health and rights of the AIDS community, through

They were seen as outcasts and ill, for their behaviors as homosexual individuals in society. Unaccepted into America’s civilization, the gay community experienced horrible acts, such as violence, hatred, and most certainly their denial of basic human rights as an American citizen, or even as a human being. The 1980’s was a time period were being gay was a disease and were the fatal and unfortunate diagnosis of the AIDS/HIV epidemic was a social problem, not just a health problem. There were many concerns of the gay community that the FDA was length of the drug approval process was exceeding its regular time. The ACTUP had taken note of these indirect acts of hatred. They accused the FDA of purposely delaying the approval of medication because of the gays. It was an anti-gay time period, and people were dying because of

However their initial goal was more specific than what we later see evolving from the group. “ACT UP's original goal was to demand the release of experimental AIDS drugs,” as it was being denied because of their hatred towards the gay community (Rimmerman 1). This also involved non-delayed and avoided time that the FDA were guilty of when it came to testing drugs that could potentially cure the disease. More so, the government did little to help with the crisis, and ACT UP broadened its purpose and its fight. “ACT UP has also publicized the prices charged and profits garnered by pharmaceutical companies for AIDS treatment drugs, said Zimmerman during his study of the history. People became drawn to this campaign as many of their family and friends, and loved ones were dying from the disease and nothing was being done to prevent these casualties because of the social aspect of it all; the gays were the ones suffering most. A famous slogan of ACT UP was “get drugs into bodies” as they fought for the basic right of obtaining treatment for the deadly disease, (Freeman 142). People were tired of seeing their friends dying and wanted a change in the health aspect of AIDS, in finding the cure for the deadly disease, as fast as