The impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic

According to different polls to assess public attitudes towards the gay population during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it appears that the public had not altered their opinions on certain issues because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The public continued to show tremendous support for the First Amendment rights and employment rights for gay people (Herek, 1997, pp. 202-3).

However, increasing numbers of people opposed the legalization of homosexuality during the mid-eighties (Herek, 1997, 203). Furthermore, the public has tended to stigmatize the behavior of gay men during the early phase of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In their perceptions, gay men deserve to get AIDS because of their sexual activity. In fact, they are associated with drug users. In addition, the public has also established a strong connection between AIDS and homosexuality. To the public, gay men having sex, regardless of

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rly years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Rubin, 1997, p. 109). In spite of the fact that the leather community utilized baths and the clubs to disseminate information about AIDS, these facilities were closed under public and political pressure. Essentially, an integral part of the gay community was destroyed because of the public's adverse reaction to the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Rubin, 1997, p. 116). While the Castro district revived, the South of Market area became threatened by redevelopment in the eighties. Consequently, the existence of leather community was annihilated by the invasion of stores, clubs, businesses that catered to the heterosexual population. For the gay people, such areas were no longer safe for them (Rubin, 1997, pp. 121-3). However, the leather community has reasserted its identity by raising money for AIDS support organizations. Thus, the community has become politicized. It has created a fund, the AIDS Emergency Fund, to help individuals suffering from AIDS and need help. The "Mr. Leather" contests have also served as a means of raising money as well as recruiting new leaders to replace the massive numbers of leaders who died in the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Rubin, 1997, pp. 124-5). Although they were deprived of th
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Approximate Word count = 1482
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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