Historical moments related to The Normal Heart

July 3, 1981

"A Rare Cancer Found in 41 Homosexuals" is published in The New York Times.

An article headlined “Rare Cancer Found in 41 Homosexuals” is published in The New York Times. Larry Kramer reads the article and soon holds a meeting in his New York apartment; within a year the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) will be formed.

1982

Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) is officially founded.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) holds hearings on what is being called gay-related immunodeficiency syndrome (GRID).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convenes and gives the illness a name — acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

1983

The first AIDS discrimination case is brought to court, in New York, by prominent AIDS doctor Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, after his landlord refuses to renew his office lease.

Larry Kramer writes an article for the gay newspaper the New York Native called “1,112 and Counting,” calling on the gay community to act to make themselves safer.

AIDS cases have now been reported in 33 countries.

April 23, 1984

Secretary of Health and Human Services Margaret Heckler announces that Dr. Robert Gallo of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has isolated the virus that causes AIDS. The virus will later be found to be similar to a sample isolated by French researchers that is sent to Gallo. A dispute between the researchers will be settled out of court and joint credit for the discovery will be given to both teams.

1984

Gallo develops a blood test, known as ELISA, to determine the presence of the virus. However, the test raises concerns about confidentiality and civil rights for patients.

San Francisco’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Merv Silver- man, orders the city’s bath- houses to close. 14 bathhouses sue to reopen.

1985

A Congressional report, “Review of the Public Health Service’s Response to AIDS,” is highly critical of the lack of federal funding for research.

April 1985

The first international AIDS conference is held in Atlanta, Ga.

Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart opens at The Public Theater in New York.

June 1985

Hemophiliac teenager Ryan White is denied entry to his school in Kokomo, Ind. After a long court battle, he will be allowed to return, but his family moves after a bullet is fired into their house.

September, 1985

President Ronald Reagan responds to a question about AIDS at a press conference. He gives an ambiguous answer to a question about sending a child to school with another child with AIDS, despite having been briefed that there is no risk. White House lawyer (and future U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice) John Roberts had sent him a memo saying, “I would not like to see the president reassuring the public on this point.”

AmFAR (the American Federation for AIDS Research) is founded by Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Michael Gottlieb. It uni- fies AIDS research organizations on the East and West coasts. Elizabeth Taylor is the national chair and Rock Hudson donates $250,000 to the organization.

October 2, 1985

Hudson dies of AIDS. He had been the first public figure to acknowledge he was suffering from the disease.

1986

U. S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop calls for a comprehensive program of AIDS and sex education and urges the use of condoms.

Dr. Mathilde Krim and Elizabeth Taylor testify before Congress on the need for clinical research and accelerated access to experimental HIV/AIDS drugs.

1987

Kramer founds ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) to agitate politically for attention to the AIDS crisis.

Zidovudine (AZT) becomes the first anti-HIV drug approved by the Food and Drug Administra- tion (FDA). At $10,000 for a one-year supply, AZT is the most expensive drug in history.
The AIDS Quilt is displayed at the National Mall for the first time.

The U.S. government bars HIV-infected travelers and immi- grants from entering the country.

1988

ACT UP demonstrates at FDA headquarters to protest the slow pace of AIDS drug approval.

The federal government mails an educational pamphlet, “Understanding AIDS,” to 107 million homes nationwide.

The World Health Organization (WHO) designates December 1 as World AIDS Day.

1989

The NIH funds 17 community-based AIDS clinical research units as part of a federally sponsored research program.
The FDA approves treatments for AZT induced anemia and Mycobacterium avium complex and a new method of preventing pneumonia.

1990

Congress passes the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects individuals with disabilities, including people with HIV/AIDS and those suspected of being infected, from discrimination.

To date, nearly twice as many Americans have died of AIDS as died in the Vietnam War.

Elizabeth Taylor and Jeanne White testify before Congress
in support of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990.

1991

The CDC reports that one million Americans are infected with HIV.
Congress enacts the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) Act of 1991 to provide housing assistance to people with HIV/AIDS.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson reveals that he is infected with HIV.
The red ribbon is introduced as a symbol of hope and compassion in the face of AIDS.

WHO estimates that nearly 10 million people are infected with HIV worldwide.

April 8, 2008

Ryan White dies; his funeral is attended by Michael Jackson, Elton John and First Lady Barbara Bush and is broadcast on national television.

 

1982

 

Previous

Date

"A Rare Cancer Found in 41 Homosexuals" is published in The New York Times.

Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) is officially founded.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) holds hearings on what is being called gay-related immunodeficiency syndrome (GRID).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convenes and gives the illness a name — acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

The first AIDS discrimination case is brought to court, in New York, by prominent AIDS doctor Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, after his landlord refuses to renew his office lease.

Larry Kramer writes an article for the gay newspaper the New York Native called “1,112 and Counting,” calling on the gay community to act to make themselves safer.

AIDS cases have now been reported in 33 countries.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Margaret Heckler announces that Dr. Robert Gallo of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has isolated the virus that causes AIDS. The virus will later be found to be similar to a sample isolated by French researchers that is sent to Gallo. A dispute between the researchers will be settled out of court and joint credit for the discovery will be given to both teams.

Gallo develops a blood test, known as ELISA, to determine the presence of the virus. However, the test raises concerns about confidentiality and civil rights for patients.

San Francisco’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Merv Silver- man, orders the city’s bath- houses to close. 14 bathhouses sue to reopen.

A Congressional report, “Review of the Public Health Service’s Response to AIDS,” is highly critical of the lack of federal funding for research.

The first international AIDS conference is held in Atlanta, Ga.

Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart opens at The Public Theater in New York.

Hemophiliac teenager Ryan White is denied entry to his school in Kokomo, Ind. After a long court battle, he will be allowed to return, but his family moves after a bullet is fired into their house.

President Ronald Reagan responds to a question about AIDS at a press conference. He gives an ambiguous answer to a question about sending a child to school with another child with AIDS, despite having been briefed that there is no risk. White House lawyer (and future U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice) John Roberts had sent him a memo saying, “I would not like to see the president reassuring the public on this point.”

AmFAR (the American Federation for AIDS Research) is founded by Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Michael Gottlieb. It uni- fies AIDS research organizations on the East and West coasts. Elizabeth Taylor is the national chair and Rock Hudson donates $250,000 to the organization.

Hudson dies of AIDS. He had been the first public figure to acknowledge he was suffering from the disease.

U. S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop calls for a comprehensive program of AIDS and sex education and urges the use of condoms.

Dr. Mathilde Krim and Elizabeth Taylor testify before Congress on the need for clinical research and accelerated access to experimental HIV/AIDS drugs.

Kramer founds ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) to agitate politically for attention to the AIDS crisis.

Zidovudine (AZT) becomes the first anti-HIV drug approved by the Food and Drug Administra- tion (FDA). At $10,000 for a one-year supply, AZT is the most expensive drug in history.
The AIDS Quilt is displayed at the National Mall for the first time.

The U.S. government bars HIV-infected travelers and immi- grants from entering the country.

ACT UP demonstrates at FDA headquarters to protest the slow pace of AIDS drug approval.

The federal government mails an educational pamphlet, “Understanding AIDS,” to 107 million homes nationwide.

The World Health Organization (WHO) designates December 1 as World AIDS Day.

The NIH funds 17 community-based AIDS clinical research units as part of a federally sponsored research program.
The FDA approves treatments for AZT induced anemia and Mycobacterium avium complex and a new method of preventing pneumonia.

Congress passes the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects individuals with disabilities, including people with HIV/AIDS and those suspected of being infected, from discrimination.

To date, nearly twice as many Americans have died of AIDS as died in the Vietnam War.

Elizabeth Taylor and Jeanne White testify before Congress
in support of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990.

The CDC reports that one million Americans are infected with HIV.
Congress enacts the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) Act of 1991 to provide housing assistance to people with HIV/AIDS.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson reveals that he is infected with HIV.
The red ribbon is introduced as a symbol of hope and compassion in the face of AIDS.

WHO estimates that nearly 10 million people are infected with HIV worldwide.

Ryan White dies; his funeral is attended by Michael Jackson, Elton John and First Lady Barbara Bush and is broadcast on national television.

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