HIV’s Queer History and the Future of Treatment and Prevention

During an October 1982 White House press briefing journalist Lester Kinsolving questioned Larry Speakes, President Ronald Reagan’s press secretary, about the president’s reaction to AIDS, mentioning the disease was known as the “gay plague”.

The press pool erupted in laughter.

“I don’t have it,” Speakes said, ignoring the question and causing more laughter in reaction. Speakes followed up by asking Kinsolving multiple times if he had AIDS.