Gay men who were diagnosed wh HIV the 1980s, before any treatment was available, reflect on the epimic they survived.
Contents:
- MILARY DRAFT POSSIBILY WEIGHED HEAVILY ON GAY MEN THE ‘80S
- KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH A US MEN’S PROFSNAL SPORTS LEAGUE TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY
- AS A GAY MAN, THE '80S CRIPPLED MY INTY
- THREE S LATER, MEN WHO SURVIVED THE 'GAY PLAGUE' SPEAK OUT
- GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT
MILARY DRAFT POSSIBILY WEIGHED HEAVILY ON GAY MEN THE ‘80S
While there have, undoubtedly, been signifint ton LGBT history earlier s, I believe the Eighti was a particularly important perd. That saw a major shift towards the emergence of a global gay culture. The gay genie me right out of s ltle pk bottle and to the streets (and the * gay guys in the 80s *
-- Jaguars assistant strength and ndng ach Kev Maxen has bee the first male ach major Amerin men's profsnal sports to publicly e out as gay, tellg he ma the cisn bee he didn't want to hi who he is any longer and to possibly spire others siar suatns.It's a cisn and move that drew praise and support om owner Shad Khan, who was a vol and emphatic supporter of a cy ordance that expand protectns on the grounds of sexual orientatn, genr inty and genr exprsn."I don't want to feel like I have to thk about anymore," Maxen said the piece published Thursday afternoon. Outsi lebacker Carl Nassib beme the first active NFL player to e out as gay and to play a game 2021.The Associated Prs ntributed to this report.
KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH A US MEN’S PROFSNAL SPORTS LEAGUE TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY
Kev Maxen has bee the first male ach a US men’s profsnal sports league to e out as gay. * gay guys in the 80s *
In the UK, the Thatcher ernment created Sectn 28 of the Lol Government Act, makg illegal for lol thori to support anythg that might promote homosexual relatnships as a viable alternative to heterosexual ‘fay life’. And even the US Army, who had clared homosexualy to be “patible wh ary service” 1982, were forced to adm 1989 that gay recs were “jt as good or better” than heterosexuals.
AS A GAY MAN, THE '80S CRIPPLED MY INTY
* gay guys in the 80s *
For example, the UK’s ernment add Sectn 28 to their Lol Government Act that ma illegal for lol thori to support anythg that promoted homosexual relatnships as an alternative to a heterosexual “fay life”. Furthermore, 1986 Pope John Pl II labelled beg gay as “evil” and orred the Church to whdraw all support om gay Catholic anizatns. Bee no one really knew anythg about AIDS when spread like wildfire the 80s, many referred to as the “gay plague” and many wanted this to lead to a ban on homosexualy.
Reverenced Jerry Falwell once argued that “AIDS is not jt God’s punishment for homosexuals; is God’s punishment for the society that tolerat homosexuals”. Eric Jimenez-Ldmeier shar his experience growg up as a closeted teen the 80s: “Beg gay the 80s meant beg isolated om an inty.
THREE S LATER, MEN WHO SURVIVED THE 'GAY PLAGUE' SPEAK OUT
There was no discsn of homosexualy school… not even our year long “Health and Sexualy” class, even though we were the middle of the AIDS crisis”. One was picked on relentlsly for his “gay-soundg” voice, lack of sports abili, and unwillgns to stand up to his bulli”.
GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT
In 1980 the Uned Stat, Gay activists won support om the Democratic Party the party add to s platform a nondiscrimatn clse that clud sexual orientatn. This support, along wh the many LGBTQ activist mpaigns, urged gay men and women to “e out of the closet” and enter the polil field as ndidat. Tammy Baldw also beme the first openly gay polician to be elected to both the US Hoe of Reprentativ and the Senate.