Anonymous
In 1974, I was a student at a university for my Bachelor's degree in Nursing. I was dating another student in the program who I loved but he broke it off to date another person. That didn't work out either so to my knowledge, he wasn't dating anyone when we graduated. I kept in touch with some of the people with whom I graduated, and learned that he was gay, and was living with his life partner in the Northeast.
Years later, I learned that both he and his partner had died of AIDS, and that someone had made them a piece for the quilt. When I saw it online, I was very moved. In 1974, we knew nothing of AIDS or HIV, and it broke my heart that they had succumbed to it. I worked at Planned Parenthood just as it was being recognized, but there wasn't a way to test or treat at that time. Thirty years later, I was a roadie on the AIDS/Lifecycle event here in California. I did it in honor of my friend and his partner. He was a good man, like most (if not all) of the other victims of HIV.
Too many wonderful people have been lost, so I made sure I educated my children and their friends about it, much to my children's dismay! I know this isn't a real story about prevention. Since he died, I helped at the high school with the LGBTQ+ allies program. My niece and her wife have educated me about many things, as have my trans friends. I try to donate money when I can to the equality organizations who fight for their rights. I'm terrified that this atmosphere of hate fostered by this horrible regime will lead to more hate crimes against people who don't deserve it.
