Its very interesting to read about this movement for aids. During the 80s, when AIDS was most dangerous, its truly devastating to see how hundreds on hundreds have died from it. Its hard to imagine something like that’s. What bothers me more is how these people where treated and viewed in the United States because of this. It shows how the LGBT community has been through so much, and has suffered death at such high rates, while being ostracized by others. Reading about the quilts is very astonishing how so many people came together to support this community at a time where there was so much hate. It was something that was needed so much at the time, and it made a huge impact.
AIDS must have been such a scary time because there was little to no sex education in communities such as black and brown ones. There was more hate to LGBT communities than support for a community clearly fighting for their lives. It was really important that these people had a way to be seen and acknowledged. They’re voices needed to be heard. Cleve Jones did that, and i think it was one of the most important things that he could’ve done. He started a movement and showed this community to the world showing that they and they’re cause and struggles were just as important too.
Each quilt is in honor of someone who died from aids, and has grown to over 40,000 different people. It was a way for families to mourn and honor there loved ones. I think that the quilt was mostly a way to acknowledge that AIDS was a problem and that there are people suffering with it. It humanized this community to the country saying that they matter too. It was such an important part of history.
