2.4 AIDS activism and its influence on Queer Theory

AIDS activism profoundly shaped Queer Theory. Groups like ACT UP and Queer Nation fought for visibility, research funding, and faster drug approvals. Their confrontational tactics and slogans like "SILENCE = DEATH" challenged stigma and discrimination.

Key figures like Larry Kramer galvanized the movement. Activists resisted biopower, forming chosen families for support. These efforts not only saved lives but also influenced how queer identity and community were understood and theorized.

AIDS Activist Groups

ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power)

• Formed in 1987 in response to the AIDS crisis and government inaction
• Used direct action tactics (die-ins, protests, and demonstrations) to demand increased funding for AIDS research and treatment
• Challenged the stigma and discrimination faced by people with AIDS
• Advocated for faster drug approval processes and more inclusive clinical trials
• Collaborated with other activist groups like Queer Nation to broaden their impact

Queer Nation and SILENCE = DEATH

• Queer Nation emerged from ACT UP in 1990 to focus on LGBTQ+ rights more broadly
• Embraced a confrontational, unapologetic approach to activism with slogans like "We're Here, We're Queer, Get Used to It"
• Organized highly visible protests and actions (Kiss-Ins, Queer Nights Out) to challenge homophobia and heteronormativity in public spaces
• SILENCE = DEATH became a powerful rallying cry and symbol of the AIDS activist movement
• The slogan and iconic pink triangle logo highlighted the life-or-death stakes of the crisis and the need for vocal, visible resistance

Key Activists and Concepts

Larry Kramer and Treatment Activism

• Larry Kramer was a prominent AIDS activist, author, and co-founder of ACT UP
• His confrontational style and urgent calls to action galvanized the AIDS activist movement
• Kramer's plays (The Normal Heart) and novels (Faggots) explored the impact of AIDS on gay communities
• Treatment activism focused on empowering patients to be active participants in their own healthcare
• Activists educated themselves about the science of AIDS and advocated for more patient-centered approaches to research and treatment

Biopower and Chosen Family

• The concept of biopower, developed by Michel Foucault, refers to the ways in which power is exercised over life itself
• In the context of the AIDS crisis, activists resisted the biopower of the state and medical establishment, which often devalued or neglected the lives of those most affected
• Chosen family became a key concept and practice in queer communities, particularly in the face of the AIDS crisis
• As many LGBTQ+ people faced rejection from their biological families, they formed close-knit chosen families for support, care, and solidarity
• These chosen families played a crucial role in providing caregiving, advocacy, and emotional support during the height of the epidemic