Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"In the popular press the initial confusion surrounding AIDS would be amplified through the use of a variety of disease names: ‘gay cancer’, ‘gay pneumonia’ or even ‘the gay plague’. [...] These comments were said and printed despite the growing evidence at that time, that a second group, intravenous drug users (IVDU), were also being affected. The words would help to shape AIDS as a gay disease in the minds of America.

"It is also interesting to note that early evidence from Europe, disputing the fact that homosexuality was an essential diagnostic criterion was ignored. [...]

"Consequent to the initial connection between AIDS and the gay community, the popular press took little interest in it. This fact becomes increasingly apparent when compared to the media's tremendous response to the sudden outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease in 1976 and the cyanide-laced Tylenol scare in 1982. Both 'epidemics' threatened white, middle class, heterosexual families and therefore, were judged to be newsworthy. The quick and intensive media response (and subsequent public outcry) was at least partly responsible for the rapid understanding and solving of these crises. No such response existed during the initial outbreak of AIDS, even though it quickly killed more men than both Legionnaire's Disease and the Tylenol scare combined and only seemed to be getting worse."

 -- Aviva Leber, "AIDS: a Catalyst of Change for the Gay Community", 2005, University of Ottawa

[We often, especially in North America, think of AIDS/HIV as something that came into existence in the late 1970s. Wikipedia reminds us that, "Genetic research indicates that HIV originated in west-central Africa during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century" (likely by way of hunters who came into contact with SIV-infected ape or chimp blood), though it wasn't identified until 1981 and renamed AIDS in 1982.]

1 December is World AIDS Day.