A few weeks ago, I heard an amazing podcast interview with Larry Kramer, founder of ACT UP, or the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, on Democracy Now! I recommend it strongly to anyone who is interested in contemporary politics in the United States. I heard about the show through Wanda Wisdom at Lucky Bitch Radio, who discussed the show on her own podcast.
The interview was conducted to commemorate the anniversary of ACT UP's inception. Kramer talks about why ACT UP was successful in its time and the need for similar activist groups today. My favorite part of the interview is when Kramer calls Ronald Reagan a monster for his part in the AIDS epidemic and says the number of infections and deaths worldwide to date are his true legacy. It was so fucking marvelous to hear Kramer cut through the bullshit sentiment the U.S. has created around Reagan and tell it like it really is.
Whether you're gay or not, you really should listen to this podcast. In addition to being relevant to the continuing AIDS situation, it's also very on point regarding our current health care problems in the U.S. and what can be done about them.
Comments (4)
It was a great interview and hopefully will help to awaken the glbt community that spends so much of its time at White Parties and Dinah Shore weekends...{ahem}
Posted by Joe G. | April 21, 2007 5:12 PM
Posted on April 21, 2007 17:12
mea culpa
Posted by Teresa | April 22, 2007 9:46 AM
Posted on April 22, 2007 09:46
Wasn't that an amaaaaazing interview?! Glad you listened and were inspired to post about it. Thanks for listening to moi, as well, and here's to a fab lesbo-tronic week! :)
Posted by Wanda Wisdom | April 25, 2007 9:29 PM
Posted on April 25, 2007 21:29
Where is the outrage, indeed!!! It was an amazing interview and I agree that what Kramer said about Reagan was spot on. It's about time we all cut through this "worship" of this republican president. Although I guess it's not surprising that this is the best the republicans have to offer: Ronald Reagan who refused to address the aides issue because he opposed homosexuality so that he in his compassionate down home folksie style sentenced millions of people to their deaths. The republicans can have the murderer.
Posted by the cute little redheaded grrlfriend | April 27, 2007 8:05 PM
Posted on April 27, 2007 20:05