Histoire du Sida

History of Medicine lecture

Monday, 18 June from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.,
the Lister Hill Auditorium,
National Library of Medicine, Building 38A, Bethesda, MD

"AIDS Research and the Gay Community"

Victoria Harden, PhD (retired NIH Historian)

The HIV/AIDS pandemic marked the first time a group of people affected by a disease insisted on full participation in medicine and society's response to an epidemic disease. By refusing the characterization of "patient" or "victim" and demanding instead to be known as "People with AIDS" the gay community in the United States launched a movement that eventually encompassed the globe and led to similar efforts by people with other diseases.  As the medical research community mined scientific understanding to identify the cause of AIDS, create a diagnostic test, and, ultimately to develop a therapy that transformed AIDS into a chronic condition, PWAs cared for the dying, lobbied for resources to fund research, and led an effort to develop AIDS prevention materials that would reach specific groups at risk.

All are welcome.

Sign language interpretation is provided. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation to participate may contact Stephen Greenberg at 301-435-4995, e-mail greenbes@mail.nih.gov, or the Federal Relay (1-800-877-8339).