The American LGBTQ+ Museum

Program Description

Join us for a panel conversation exploring the critical roles organizations like ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) and Visual AIDS had in the context of landmark rulings that changed the face of American law.

This conversation aims to complement the Queer Justice exhibition by shedding light on how the activism of individuals, collectives, and organizations during the AIDS crisis intersected with Lambda Legal’s work and has shaped the course of LGBTQ+ justice over the past half-century.

The panel will feature Ron Goldberg (Author of Boy with the Bullhorn), Blake Paskal (Artist Engagement and Community Programs Manager, Visual AIDS), and Jose Abrigo (HIV Project Director, Lambda Legal), moderated by Suhaly Bautista-Carolina (Programs Director, American LGBTQ+ Museum).

On the broadcast, attendees will hear:

• The origins of ACT UP, Visual AIDS, and Lambda Legal, including a shared commitment to fight for the rights and dignity of people affected by HIV/AIDS.
• The innovative and often confrontational tactics ACT UP employed to raise awareness, challenge government policies, and accelerate research and treatment.
• How ACT UP built a powerful sense of community and solidarity among those affected by HIV/AIDS and its allies.
• The enduring legacy of ACT UP and the ongoing challenges in addressing HIV/AIDS, healthcare disparities, and LGBTQ+ rights.
• Firsthand accounts and personal stories from individuals who were involved in ACT UP’s activism or were directly affected by HIV and the AIDS crisis.