Not Forgotten: The Early Days of AIDS

Estimating the magnitude of the stigma and unforgettable impact of the discrimination toward family members of AIDS victims in the early years is difficult. It may be hard to comprehend that although 30 years have gone by, many are still living with the secrets of their past. The fear of being shunned or ostracized if someone found out that one of their loved ones had AIDS was often so great, that the trade-off of isolation far outweighed the shame and embarrassment of being public. In today’s more accepting society, many are liberated and embraced for their openness, yet families from the early years are still living not just in the closet, but behind a locked door where the key seems irretrievable.