Pride Month Academia

Happy Pride Month! As someone who became fascinated with queer history many years ago, celebrating pride month in this way became comforting to me, and honestly, pushed me in the direction of the degree I’m studying now. Finding a legitimate academic route to learning about queer history can be difficult, so if any of you find the time, I thought I would make a list of my favourite pride month activities. We may not all be connected by blood, but our history and struggle overlap, I am only able to write a post such as this because our communal ancestors fought to let me, I can only hope to use this time to show them gratitude.

Something to note for the allies: your queer friends appreciate when you’re not completely clueless about our struggles and history, all it takes is 5 minutes to find resources on laws in your country/province/state, charities/organisations near you, queer icons, and mental health. Watch, listen, learn.

Thank you, without further ado:

- Research the history of homosexuality in wherever you live

- Send lavender to someone you love (or wear lavender perfume)

- Write a five-line stanza about a girl you made eye contact with for 6 seconds at a cafe

- Research secret queer societies

- Analyse Sappho’s poetry, and that of which she inspired

- Watch interviews from Stonewall attendees

- Watch queer cinema —> Maurice, Dead Poets Society, Milk, Carol, Summer of ‘85

- Write an essay about your favourite queer icon

- If you partake in other forms of social media, follow queer tribute/history accounts (@/queerloveinhistory & @/theaidsmemorial on instagram)

- Obsess over LGBT art, hang it around you room, stare at it for so long that Frida Kahlo is burned into your corneas

- Write a paper on your favourite queer icon, or one you want to know more about

- Translate queer writings from a language you’re learning

- See LGBT art in person at a gallery/exhibition

- Lastly, treat yourself, have some self care, take some time away from the internet, find a safe space that you can be yourself

Blessed be the mystery of love!

This photo was taken in 1989 by Michael Schwarz of 33 year old Tom Fox in the last moments of his life whilst surrounded by his family at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, Oregon.

To remember your loved ones on @theaidsmemorial on Thursday for World AIDS Day, December 1st

Please email —

Your post should be no longer than 380 words and include at least 1 photo.

whatisrememberedlives

Something that struck me in your last response - you say in the uk adoption of adults is not possible. Did you know that (i think mostly in the US) before same sex marriage was possible, same sex couples would sometimes use adult adoption as a way to have their relationship legally recognized in some way? It's on wikipedia, "same-sex adypt adoption", if you're interested. I just think it's kind of fascinating that in the uk today the situation is inverted

I did actually - in fact, that’s how I found out it wasn’t possible in the UK!

I think possible the Instagram account ‘theAIDSmemorial’ - which I highly recommend, by the way - may have posted about a couple who did that, in order to get some legal privileges that gay couples were denied without marriage, and I googled it from there.

I think it’s so wrong that people in non-biological families have to decide before 18 whether they want to formalise that bond with adoption - it seems like unnecessary pressure. Also, for people who aren’t able to find parent figures until they’re adults, and never have the chance to be adopted. It just seems like something that could be easily changed, would affect very few people directly, but could benefit them immensely. Of course it could be abused (I’m thinking about changing wills, manipulating people with dementia, various issues off the top of my head), but lawmakers could aim to mitigate that with legislation.

In conclusion: adoption for adults! Also, thank you anon for sharing this info with people who might not have known this element of the creativity of gay couples in the Crisis, and for the opportunity to share the Memorial account!

@worldaidsday - "Recent research found 63% of the public do not remember seeing or hearing about HIV in the past six months. Only a third said they have sympathy for people living with HIV regardless of how they acquired it. Our survey also found 1 in 5 think people think you can acquire HIV through kissing. Only 16% knew if someone is on effective treatment, they can’t pass HIV on and can expect to live a long and healthy life. World AIDS Day is the perfect time for us to raise much needed awareness about HIV. We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to end the HIV epidemic for good, but we must also continue fighting the stigma still experienced by people living with HIV. Your support can help us realise our vision of a future where HIV is no barrier to health or equality." @nationalaidstrust #NationalAidsTrust @ejaf @hivisnotacrime @theaidsmemorial @aidsunited @aidswalkokc @okaidscarefund @aids_conference @thtorguk #PositivelyMedicated #LiveLifeIrie #CupCake #HIV #AIDS #WorldAidsDay #Advocate #AdvocateLikeAMFer #Awareness #EducateDontHate #UEqualsU #KnowYourStatus #ART #Prep #SilenceEqualsDeath #SilenceIsDeadly #EndStigma #EndAids2030 #RockTheRibbon #SeeRed (at Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CloozynO4z3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy Birthday Sylvester! 🎤🕺🏽🪩💃🏽🥁 #Sylvester #cockettes #theCockettes #TriciasWedding #allaprima #allaprimapainting #allaprimaportrait #disco #discoQueen #androgynous #flamboyant #falseto #SylvesterJamesJr #youMakeMeFeal #MightyReal #DoYouWannaFunk #DiscoHits #TimeLapseArt #Diva #GayBlackDiva #LoveMeLikeYouShould #LGBTQicon #FacesOfAids #AIDs @theaidsmemorial @darkentriesrecords https://www.instagram.com/p/CiLq9E5vWaL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#thetango @atlassocialclub #lovefloor #djbooth #love #yankeesbaseballhats #alwaysthedancer @boss @broadwaycom #fitnessphotographer @memorialday @theaidsmemorial #batzography @batz_skinner #dancerfromthedance @gmhc @keithharingfoundation @planetfitness @bodybuildingcom @newbalance @newbalancelifestyle @newbalancerunning #newyorker @blu_germany #nycisafullbodyworkout #michaelradel #lifeisbeautiful @batzstyle #batzwear @underarmour @fashionweek #hautecouture #actor #artist #america #anatomy #fitness #trainer #trainees #comedian #bbbatz #batz #bod #nyc #thepower #spiritualfitness @foundationforinnerpeace @mariannewilliamson (at Atlas Social Club) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeNds3cOH7D/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Repost @theaidsmemorial — It’s 2019 and people are still dying because of the fear of stigmatization, discrimination and ignorance perpetuated by the likes of @iamcardib. . Fear, stigma and ignorance are the reasons why the AIDS epidemic is not over, because with treatment, no one needs to die from AIDS. . @iamcardib would be better suited in using her platform to educate her 51 million Instagram followers and to apologize for her highly reprehensible language. . #whatisrememberedlives #aidsmemorial #theaidsmemorial #neverforget #endaids https://www.instagram.com/p/B3TaTq-B1At/?igshid=s16o80cwzksi

DIA INTERNACIONAL DE LUTA CONTRA A AIDS 🎗 Sob o olhar da Psicologia, falar sobre viver com HIV é falar sobre afetividade, acolhimento, garantia de direitos e ressignificação. É também importante destacar o respeito e o reconhecimento de profissionais da Psicologia que atuam na linha de frente do enfrentamento a epidemia de HIV e Aids e ressaltar a necessidade de manutenção de políticas públicas de prevenção e também para aquelas pessoas que vivem com HIV. #aids #hiv #aidsawareness #aidslifecycle #endaids #worldaidsday #aidswalk #aidsmemorial #instavape #aidsday #aidsincera #aidshealthcarefoundation #hivawareness #aidstation #hivis #aidscrew #aidsfoundation #aidsresearch #theaidsmemorial #hivaids #aidsfreegen #aidsprevention #prevencao #vida #saude https://psico.online/blog/?s=Aids&submit=Search (em CRT DST/Aids SP - Centro de Referência e Treinamento DST/Aids - SP) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5iDb3yFTb9/?igshid=1joh888r6kbip

@theaidsmemorial

@Regran_ed from @theaidsmemorial - 🔻 . Steve Tracy (October 3, 1952 – November 27, 1986) was an actor best known for his role as Percival Dalton on the western television series Little House on the Prairie. . Tracy died of AIDS at the age of 33. His ashes were scattered under the Hollywood Sign in the Hollywood Hills under the letter "D". . Born Steven Crumrine into a Jewish family, Tracty attended @kentstate, Ohio, and the Theatre Department at Los Angeles City College as well as the Harvey Lembeck Comedy Workshop. . After Little House on the Prairie ended, Tracy maintained a friendship with his on-screen wife @alisonarngrim (Nellie Oleson). Arngrim and Tracy were very close while filming on the set and that she was the only one on the set of who knew that he was gay. . In 2010, Arngrim in an interview with the @theadvocatemag recalled: . “Steve’s death was very hard on his mother and sister, who had stood by him through his illness, even though they lived in Tampa, Florida, a city that was not exactly what you would call enlightened about the AIDS crisis. When he died, their local funeral home refused to cremate him. They wouldn’t take the body. Nor would the next place his mother called. Or the next one. . We’d had trouble like this in Los Angles, too. The AIDS hotline even made a list of funeral homes you could call that knew that you didn’t get AIDS from preparing a dead person for cremation. But Steve’s mom wasn’t in Los Angeles. She finally found a funeral home that would help her: the one funeral home that took people who had died of AIDS was the only African-American-owned funeral home in town. . Having been the target of discrimination and hatred for so many years, back to the days when white-owned funeral homes wouldn’t touch the body of a black person, its owners understood what it was like to have someone tell you that you can’t bury your loved one, because “we don’t serve your kind.” . #whatisrememberedlives #theaidsmemorial #aidsmemorial #neverforget #endaids - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/BoeaaUSl3kJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ls2bwmzuh30n

Are you following @theaidsmemorial ?? I feel so incredibly lucky to live in a generation with effective prevention and treatment against HIV/AIDS. Reading the stories of so many lives that have been lost is both painful and beautiful. An entire generation missing. Imagine what the setback we’re facing—what paintings not made, plays not written, breakthroughs not conceived. It’s mind boggling. Checkout @theaidsmemorialtshirt at @adamsnest . Each purchase supports @housingworks Designed by @zachgrearart #theaidsmemorial #whatisrememberedlives #me #selfie

111,240

(Photo by Riff Chorusriff. 8th Street, NYC Pride March. June 25, 2017.)

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According to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, that’s how many New Yorkers have died of an AIDS-related illness through 2016. The figure, however, only represents the victims who have been counted since the plague began: one hundred eleven thousand two hundred and forty. Meanwhile, across the city, some 69,166 people are presently battling full-blown AIDS and another 54,721 are coping with the fallout from HIV.

While the number of New Yorkers diagnosed with HIV, AIDS, or both afflictions has mercifully receded from the highs of the mid-1990s, the disease is still with us. There were 2,279 new cases of HIV recored last year and 1,403 already sick people succumbed to AIDS. Surprisingly, those who contracted HIV through IV drug use (30.4%) died at a greater rate than those who were infected via either homosexual (19.9%) or heterosexual (19.8%) contact. But that doesn’t distract from all the casualties: 6,900 in 1992...7,400 in 1994...8,300 in 1995...and on and on and on....

Sadly, the photo I snapped above contained the only mention of AIDS I saw while watching this year’s Pride March. Perhaps I missed a float here or there but, even if I did, the scant acknowledgment of such a ferocious actor upon the gay community was deeply unnerving. Are we becoming more and more divorced from our recent history? Do we even care? Has the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs (PrEP) to prevent infections enabled us to cheerfully break from an inconvenient past? Or, because so few from the older generation have survived to pass down their stories, have we each been fashioned into rudderless clay rafts?

Even if we wanted to, where could we go to excavate and experience the history we’d find underneath each of those AIDS statistics? Unfortunately, the city’s not the best when it comes to commemorating a bunch of drug users, gays, hemophiliacs, unlucky newborns, those that got a bad blood supply during a hospital stay, or anyone who made an honest mistake--the so-called “bad people,” you know? 

Anyway, say you want to try. Maybe you plan a visit to the year-old NYC AIDS Memorial at St. Vincent’s Triangle in Greenwich Village. Looking about, though, you’ll find little connection to the city’s 111,240 dead there. For some reason, the designers decided not to include any of the victim’s names, faces, or stories on their steely white jungle gym monument. In fact, the only inscription you’ll perceive at all are the words of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” chiseled in the pavement under your feet. It wouldn’t surprise me if you and everyone else passing by mistook the whole thing as a reliquary for the grizzled old poet’s yawp.

That’s why the Aids Memorial (@theaidsmemorial) on Instagram is such a necessity. It’s the type of record we should have access to in real life: a photo paired with someone’s simple recollection of the person in the frame. The combination of the two is enough to cut a chasm through just about anyone’s heart and flood it with a rush of history and a longing. Generic mementos just don’t compare. Although not exclusively representing New Yorkers, the Aids Memorial is nonetheless better than anything we have. Take this recent entry for instance:

(Photo posted to instagram.com/theaidsmemorial. December 14, 2017.)

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Submitted by Instagram user @martinbelk, the caption that accompanies this photo reads, in part:

Were you in the East Village, NYC in the ‘90s and ever went to The Bar, Dicks, Reno Bar? You know William J “Billy” Corcoran? Not just a bartender, Billy took a keen interest in people. Many nights the phone would ring and instead of “Let’s go out” the call was “Let’s go see Billy.” He had a talent for accepting people at face value. He also loved to throw a great party….

We used to talk on the phone for hours. One day in 1995, he called and told me a long story. Then, after a pause he repeated the same story. Then he repeated it again. Then it hit me. Billy wasn’t right. Within a week or so he was put into Lenox Hill Hospital. Some friends had tried to keep it all a secret for some strange reason, but I found him. I snuck a whole group into the pysch ward for a visit.

Eventually, he lost his ability to reason much through speech. The last time I went to visit, I sensed something was wrong and I just walked out of work. He couldn’t say much but with his hand gestures he spoke to me. I knew. His dear sister Linda buried him near his native home in Staten Island in ‘95.

“Stuart,” the anonymous Scotsman who runs the Aids Memorial, has been accruing chronicles like this on the account since March 2016. As to why he decided upon this undertaking, he told Out magazine in February 2017 that 

All types of history, even from an early age, have interested me greatly. Naturally I find LGBTQ history particularly fascinating, as it is kind of unexplored territory, especially the history of the AIDS epidemic. I feel that those who have died have been forgotten.

HIV/AIDS has become a “chronic illness”! No one speaks of those who have died. AIDS, it seems, is still a dirty word. I thought Instagram was the perfect medium to document the existence of those who are no longer with us and also those who were left behind.

Perhaps his efforts will make more people wonder about those 111,240 New Yorkers who have all but disappeared.

Today Keith Haring would have been 62 years old; he died of AIDS 30 years ago in 1990.  Timely that @billyboy1979 shared this pic wearing his AIDS Memorial Tee yesterday and sharing his Keith Haring tattoo.  Keith Allen Haring was an American artist whose pop art and graffiti-like work grew out of the New York City street culture of the 1980s. Much of his work includes sexual allusions that turned into social activism. He achieved this by using sexual images to advocate for safe sex and AIDS awareness.  We’ve come a long way in how we define “safe sex” but we must never forget those who fought and died for our freedoms and that AIDS isn’t over.  #whatisrememberedlives #endAIDS #theaidsmemorial #tamtee #audrelorde #haring #keithharing #queerart #queerstreetart #queerantine #pingamestrong #PrEP #UequalsU #HIVequal #ScienceNotStigma #factsnotfear https://www.instagram.com/p/B_xCWIBhies/?igshid=w3gx639oxxf6

Posted @withrepost • @theaidsmemorial — “Craig G. Harris, we all owe you a debt of gratitude. As the conference coordinator for the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays (NCBLG), you helped the organization pull off the first major national conference on AIDS in the Black community at the Washington Convention Center in 1986. . I will never forget your teasing me by wearing your pearls to a meeting at the US Department of Health and Human Services to report on how we were spending the $20,000 the Reagan Administration provided for this event. You knew I was concerned it would frighten the hell out of them, and you playfullly hid them as we got off the elevator and walked into the meeting. . I went into terrible denial, even anger at you for not getting tested earlier, when I saw you at a @cdcgov meeting in Atlanta, near the end of your young life, with Kaposi's sarcoma lesions on your face. Of course I was angry, that you too would shortly depart and leave me. . Craig died of AIDS on November 26, 1992. He was 33 years old. Your thoughtful and creative writing remains with us today! Thank you!”— by Gil Gerald . #whatisrememberedlives #theaidsmemorial #aidsmemorial #neverforget #endaids https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv7tOjGHe2B/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1uvlhdzkragft