Must see for *ALL* DUers: How To Survive A Plague

[Smarmie Doofus]

It is fucking breathtaking.

Documentary about what a relatively small bunch of really smart and creative people with nothing to lose can accomplish politically.

(NYC , '80's and 90's for those who are totally new to this sort of thing.)

Thru sheer single-mindeness of purpose (and a willingness to be totally and completely obnoxious) they moved a hostile, sluggish, brain-dead government bureaucracy. And saved thousands of lives... maybe millions... in the process.

It's not depressing ( although it's REAL emotional) and it's energizing as hell. I may not sleep tonite.

GGGRRRRRrrrrrrrrrooowwwwlll.

[William769]

1. I remember this all to well, I for one will never forget this.

So many of us fought and even risked jail to make sure this disease was brought to the forefront. I lost many friends during this time that was just senseless.

Reagan was the biggest problem in the beginning and his Administration made sure there was no funding at all. Does not bother me in the least to say I am glad he was turned into worm food and is rotting in Hell for all eternity (thats me being nice to him).

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. It was hard to believe it was real when it was going on.

Most people I knew pre-AIDs felt privileged ( not self satisfied, but fortunate --- in a sort of historical sense) and indestructible.

It's still hard to believe.

[Warpy]

2. ACT UP was very active in Boston, too

We had them come in and do (unofficial) inservices in the hospital because the whole thing was moving so fast. Their outreach extended beyond the gay community to drug users and sex workers. They were fantastic.

I do know that once ACT UP came on the scene, we started to see experimental drugs with only letters and numbers identifying them used--and the studies weren't being done double blind, it was compassionate use of investigational drugs in people who would have been dead in days, sometimes hours, without them.

People who started and staffed ACT UP in the 80s are some of my big heroes. It's high time the rest of the country learned about them.

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. They really DO need to learn about them. If they're serious about wanting to *make change*.

I thought about posting this to GD instead of LGBT for that very reason: I think ACT-UP , perhaps more than any other phenomenon, sets a useful model for the kind of profound social reform that many, perhaps *most* people on the site seem to be looking for.

But I decided to post it to LGBT so that LGBTers would be sure to see it. I should have guessed that ONLY LGBTers would comment. I suspect a lot of other DUers wont even click the post if its got LGBT in the header.

The more things change.....


>>>People who started and staffed ACT UP in the 80s are some of my big heroes. It's high time the rest of the country learned about them.>>>


One of the most moving and inspirational things about the film is....... I don't want to give it away.... the outcome for the core group, the Treatment Action Group....that is at the center of the film; young guys in their twenties in the 1980s, some of whom had t-counts near zero and didn't expect to survive the year... much less the epidemic.... in the early footage interviews.

[Warpy]

8. I remember how exciting it was

when we started to do things like pentamidine nebulizers along with the alphabet soup antivirals and instead of taking them to the morgue, we saw them get well enough to go home for some good days. How many good days, we didn't know, but at least they'd get to say good bye and get things in order.

Now it's just another chronic disease that needs to be taken care of, a major pain in the ass rather than an immediate and automatic death sentence.

ETA: it's better to have this in the LGBT group. It would sink like a stone in GD.

[mitchtv]

3. this is all too real for me, also

my once large circle of friends gas been reduced to a handful, many very quickly and early. The holidays get quiet at times

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. Believe me. I know the feeling. n/t

[William769]

4. Just wanted to add

Remember a Friend

Remember a friend. Remember a mem’ry.
Tho’ you’re gone, you’re here by my side.
Close my eyes and I see you again, oh my friend, how I still remember you.
Much more than a mem’ry. Oh my friend, I still love you so.
My friend, I’m remembering you.
Some days are empty.
Some days are blue.
Please know I miss you.
I’m remembering you.

Remember a friend. Remember a mem’ry.
Tho’ you’re gone, you’re here by my side.
Close my eyes and I see you again, oh my friend, how I still remember you.
Much more than a mem’ry. Oh my friend, I still love you so.
My friend, I’m remembering you.

From: A Tribute to the Memory of You

[Neoma]

9. Is this out in Theatres or can I buy it?

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. Here's the site. There's a few showings around the country left.

http://surviveaplague.com/synopsis

But it looks like it's already made the rounds. I saw it three days ago in in NY.

I checked: Netflix doesn't have it either. You can put it on "save".

Maybe you can find out more thru the website.

[Smarmie Doofus]

12. Apparently it's available now on Netflix streaming.

Thanks to cbayer for the investigatory legwork.

[cbayer]

11. Kicking for visibilty. Streaming on Netflix and a must see.

It's one of the better documentaries I've seen in a long time and was deeply personal for me, as I am sure it is for many who visit this group

How to Survive a Plague
2012
NR
1hr 49m

Average of 7,691 ratings: 4 stars
This passionate documentary focuses on the grass-roots crusade in the 1980s and '90s to speed up efforts at developing treatments for the HIV virus. The film follows AIDS activists to Washington, where they challenge the government to act.