A. Cornelius Baker (1961–2024), HIV testing advocate

A. Cornelius Baker was a public health policy expert who advocated for extensive HIV/AIDS testing and care, even in the early days of the disease.

Rev. Steve Pieters (1952–2023), longtime HIV/AIDS activist 

Rev. Dr. A. Steve Pieters was an influential HIV/AIDS activist whose interview with in 1985 helped begin to shift public opinion on the outbreak and how to confront it.

Urvashi Vaid (1958–2022), influential LGBTQ+ activist  

Urvashi Vaid was an influential activist for LGBTQ+ rights who was a former executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Carl Bean (1944–2021), “I Was Born This Way” singer who inspired Lady Gaga

Carl Bean was a minister, AIDS activist, and singer known for his 1977 dance club hit, “I Was Born This Way.”

Patrick O’Connell (1953–2021), developed red ribbon for HIV/AIDS awareness

Patrick O’Connell was the founding director of Visual AIDS, where he developed programs for HIV/AIDS awareness including the red ribbon.

Joseph Sonnabend (1933–2021), pioneering AIDS doctor

Joseph Sonnabend was a physician who was one of the first to notice symptoms in his patients that would later be identified as HIV/AIDS.

Leanza Cornett (1971–2020), former Miss America

Leanza Cornett was a TV personality and musician who was crowned Miss Florida in 1992 and Miss America in 1993.

Timothy Ray Brown (1966–2020), first person cured of HIV infection

Timothy Ray Brown was known as the “Berlin patient,” the first person who was known to have been cured of HIV infection.

Flossie Wong-Staal (1946–2020), pioneering HIV researcher

Flossie Wong-Staal was a molecular virologist whose research on HIV was crucial in the development of blood tests to detect the virus.

Larry Kramer (1935–2020), playwright and AIDS activist

Larry Kramer was an influential playwright and AIDS activist whosebest-knownplay isThe Normal Heart, which was about theearly days of the AIDScrisis.

Mathilde Krim (1926–2018), AIDS research pioneer

Founded the first private organization dedicated to AIDS research…

Michael Friedman (1975–2017), Composer for “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”

Composer and lyricist for the rock musical “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.”

The Legacy of Demme's "Philadelphia" Feels Different 20 Years Later

(by guest contributor Josh Kruger)

Ricky Wilson and the Rock Lobster

Ricky Wilson and the B-52's burst onto the scene in a big way with their self-titled debut album in 1979...