Film: "How To Survive A Plague" Wows Sundance And Gains Critic's Raves

 

 

Increasingly the arts community is becoming the voice of the history of the darkest years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The newest project to be unveiled at Sundance Film Festival was Director David France's "How To Survive A Plague" which tells the story of ACT UP in the 1980's and early 1990's. At its first screening, the documentary received two standing ovations. In addition, the film was immediately brought for distribution by Sundance Selects. Jonathan Sehring of Sundance Selects said of the Joy Tomchin/David France entry

This is a towering film in the history of cinema about social activism. Its astonishing use of archival material to reconstruct an era of political indifference in the face of an unimaginable health crisis helps to create a new blueprint for modern activists."

The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a rave review and here are a few excerpts:

Words like “important” and “inspiring” tend too often to be meaninglessly attached to non-fiction filmmaking, but in the case of David France's compelling snapshot of a revolutionary period in AIDS treatment, they are amply justified........

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of David France’s emotionally charged documentary, How to Survive a Plague, is that despite the wealth of books, films and plays dealing with AIDS, this feels like a part of the story that hasn't yet been told – certainly not with such probing insight. Packed with fascinating interviews and stirring footage from the trenches, the film deftly shapes its information stream into a powerful drama recounting the highs and lows, setbacks and victories in the fight for an effective HIV treatment.........

The battle of a small New York-based group of gay activists against the FDA, the NIH and major drug companies might sound more earnest than engaging. It’s not. The film is actually an epic celebration of heroism and tenacity, and less directly, a useful template for any fledgling activist movement, demonstrating the effectiveness of inside/outside strategy. It also shows the enduring government apathy toward gay-rights issues that slowed research funding and cost so many lives.

Variety also joined in the raving about the documentary:

This saga is told primarily through archival videotape (Act-Up was nothing if not media-savvy) often narrated by participants. These include a number of important researchers, but the character emphasis is on the activists, a vivid assortment whose survival the pic cannily holds in suspense.

A veteran journalist who's been reporting on AIDS since the epidemic's earliest days, debuting helmer France and his first-rate collaborators have assembled a package as engrossing in human terms as it is historically informative. Artful editing, original scoring and music supervision make especially valuable contributions.

LGBT History: Meeting Our Pioneers....Jim Foster

 

 

Often the real mover and shakers from our glorious history live in the shadows of our legends like Harvey Milk or Elaine Noble. Many of them died during the AIDS epidemic and no one was left to tell their story. As we move forward this week making great progress on marriage and a host of other LGBT issues, let us not forget a silent hero from our past - Jim Foster.

Jim Foster, along with Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, was one of the founders of the modern day LGBT political movement in San Francisco. He was so successful that the became a role model for many of us still struggling to come out of the closet. Foster was among the founders of the first LGBT political club in San Francisco. At first he worked through the Society for Individual Rights (SIR) where he was a major player in assisting a young Dianne Feinstein to be elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969.

In 1972, as a McGovern delegate, he became the first openly gay man ever to speak to a national political convention. While speaking very late at night, his speech is still remembered by those of us who couldn't believe a gay man was speaking to the National Democratic Convention. His speech electrified the small activist LGBT community in 1972. Among the lines of his historic address were:

"We do not come to you begging your understanding or pleading your tolerance. We come to you affirming our pride in our lifestyle, affirming the validity of our right to seek and to maintain meaningful emotional relationships and affirming our right to participate in the life of this country on an equal basis with every citizen."

At that very same convention, it was the first time the LGBT community was able to maneuver and bring a 'gay rights plank' to the floor where it was voted down. Foster was the key force and floor leader in that battle.

One of the sad aspects of Foster's career is that he supported a liberal straight Democrat over Harvey Milk when Milk ran for Supervisor. It led to an intense rivalry in the city.

In 1980, Foster became a key supporter of Senator Edward Kennedy in his primary challenge to President Jimmy Carter. Foster used personal funds to keep the campaign running in San Francisco when money was short and earned the love and respect for the senator the rest of his life.

Foster died of HIV/AIDS in 1990. Like many who died in this epidemic whose contributions are unknown today, Foster left his mark for good and enabled us to make it this far.

HIV/AIDS: Banning Needle Exchange Once Again Is Deadly Policy

 

 

For twenty-one years there was a policy of banning 'needle exchange' - a program which would hinder the spread of HIV/AIDS. Two years ago in a moment of sanity the ban was lifted and public health policy stopped being a political football. Now it appears that the new spending bill will reinstate the needle exchange ban and proceed once again with a policy that will guarantee the spread of HIV/AIDS through dirty and used needles.

The new horrific ban includes both funding of international and domestic programs. Republicans in the House of Representatives insisted that the ban once again become policy ignoring all scientific, medical and health experts' advice about the consequences of this action. The primary spread of HIV/AIDS in America is through unclean needles. Making it impossible to finance the distribution of clean needles by healthcare workers and other outlet will simply indisputably increase the number of people with HIV/AIDS.

Studies have show that HIV infection rates drop by 5% in areas where needle exchange exists and increase by the same rates in areas without the programs. This blow to a much needed prevention plan comes as money is running out for ADAP programs that provide urgently needed treatments for people with HIV/AIDS.

This new policy will simply kill people and harm thousands of others.

Photojournalism: World AIDS Day

 

 

One of the most successful campaigns ever was the creation of World AIDS Day. Each year the event grows and involves literally millions around the world. Young and old, sick and healthy, rich and poor, first world and third world all join together in one common cause to combat this epidemic. Boston.com's Big Picture has a photo essay from special moments doing this incredible outpouring of humanity for a better planet. Click here to see the rest of the photographs and all the important photographer credits.

Hell's Kitchen Journal: An AIDS Christmas

 

 

At the height of the dark period of HIV/AIDS, the holidays were a particularly difficult time. There were two basic challenges that faced people with AIDS: One was that many were just too sick to travel and wouldn't be able to make it home to their families. The other was many families did not want their gay sick son to return home at all for the holidays. The stories I could tell of families abandoning their sons because they were gay and had AIDS would fill a book. The spiritual and physiological toll it took on young men fighting for their lives is impossible to describe with mere words.

Being a Christmas nut, it broke my heart to see such sadness on such a beautiful holiday. So I started an 'Orphan Christmas' where I would host guys who either were too sick to travel or not welcomed by their families to come share Christmas Eve with all the trimmings, music and laughter that they deserved to have at that moment in their lives. That first Christmas it was about twenty to thirty guys jammed into my small West Hollywood apartment to eat a full Christmas Eve buffet. Each of them had a wrapped gift from Santa Claus to open as carols played.

The next year several friends joined to help prepare for the evening and almost 50 guests showed up. There was a big tree, tons of music, laughter and hanging around until Christmas Eve turned into Christmas Day. Some left to attend midnight services and others were secular or did not 'officially' celebrate Christmas. We would clean up and stay up late sharing stories of our families and how we celebrate the various holidays growing up.

The third year my dear friends Dr. Scott Hitt and Alex Koleszar sensed it was getting too big for my home and suggested they host it with me at their Hollywood Hills home. The location was perfect since it overlooked Los Angeles and the hundreds of thousands of lights sparkled below us like one giant Christmas light show. That year drew over a 100 people. From that point on the event kept growing and others joined in as we gathered each year at Scott and Alex's home.

There was always a massive dinner, always music and always a gift from Santa Claus. At every single "AIDS Christmas" people were joyful and not victims. We all were family not only in this struggle together but in taking every moment we could to celebrate life, joy and laughter. Each and every one of those evenings were simply beautiful.

Most of the men who had HIV/AIDS during this dark yet joyous time have passed away from the disease. And each and every one has left me a special gift of wonderful memories at Christmas time.

Film: Sundance Film Festival Selects NYC AIDS Documentary

 

 

The 2012 Sundance Film Festival announced their nominees for their prestigious film festival to take place January 19th through January 29th in Park City, Utah. The festival has launched many successful independent films and documentaries over the years. Filmmakers love this event since it features more serious work by new filmmakers than most other similar efforts.

Among the 16 documentaries nominated for "Best U.S. Documentary" was the story of the battle against AIDS in the 1980's in New York City. "How To Survive A Plague" directed by David France is an exciting effort to ensure that the history of the early days of the epidemic would not be lost with time. A powerful film detailing the struggles of people with HIV/AIDS fighting for their lives. Here is how Sundance described the film:

How to Survive a Plague / U.S.A. (Director: David France) — The untold story of the intensive efforts that turned AIDS into a manageable condition – and the improbable group of (mostly HIV-positive) young men and women whose amazing resilience broke through a time of rampant death and political indifference.

The selection of the film guarantees a broad audience and the best possible chance of acquiring a distribution deal for the film.

Architecture: International Competition To Design NYC AIDS Memorial

 

 

Momentum continues to grow for the construction of an AIDS Memorial at the triangle near St. Vincent's hospital. On World's AIDS Day, the planners have announced an international competition to design the space into a living memorial. St. Vincent's was the epicenter of the epidemic in the 1980's and early 1990's.

All design entries must be into the jury by January 21, 2012 and the winner will receive a $5,000 prize plus a gallery show of his design. A blue ribbon panel of judges led by Michael Arad who designed the World Trade Center Memorial and also including famous architect Richard Meier, dance legend Bill T. Jones and CEO of Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) Dr. Marjorie Hill will pick the winning design.

You can obtain the full details by clicking here.

AIDS Memorial Park Design Competition from Beechwood Film on Vimeo.

Impressions...by David Mixner

 

 

Los Angeles
City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and City Council President Gil Garcetti Endorses Torie Osborn

-The race in California's 50th Assembly District is dividing the LGBT community in Los Angeles. Pitting long time lesbian activist and visionary Torie Osborn against a more establishment straight ally, Betsy Butler. Blogger Karen Ocamb of LGBTPOV has written an interesting article about the race.

-With the addition of former Equality California's Development Director Eric Harrison, the California organization "Love Honor Cherish" is still hoping to place marriage equality on the California ballot next November. Harrison will serve as Executive Director. At this stage, they face an uphill battle.

-In New York, three term Mayor Matt Alexander of Wappingers Falls has announced he is seeking the 19th Congressional district seat as an openly gay Democrat. The district lies just north of New York City and is currently held by a Tea Party Republican! The town, by the way, named after a native American tribe, lies in Duchess County,

-Climate change is all about extremes and not necessary being warm all the time. In a massive report, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that extreme weather events are already occurring, inflicting great damage and loss of life. They urge all governmental entities to start preparing immediately for extreme weather events.

-The last week or two has been like an award show at the Glass House Tavern. Seen breaking bread at the West 47th Street eatery was Tony-nominated actor Bobby Cannavale (photograph), The Good Wife's Alan Cumming, Patti LaPone, Mandy Patinkin, Angela Bassett, Courtney Vance, Frances McDormand and husband Joel Coen , jazz legend Dave Koz and NBA's Commissioner David Stern!

-Herman Cain is the gift that keeps giving - at least to Newt Gingrich. As news of an alleged long term affair surfaced this weekend, Cain supporters are flocking to Newt. This strengthens the momentum that Gingrich is building. By the way, Iowa is just 33 days away....that's right...a little over a month!

-Speaking of Newt, the latest National poll has him at 32% and Romney at 23%. The spread keeps getting larger as Cain's gets smaller. Also a new CNN Poll has him with a seven point lead over Romney in Iowa. He lays it out for Iowa Conservatives by saying, "I don't claim to be the perfect candidate. I just claim to be a lot more conservative than Mitt Romney."

-Legendary blogger and radio personality Michelangelo Signorile has been anointed by the Huffington Post as the new "Editor-at-Large" on their "Gay Voices" page. This is a real coup for the Post.

-Former Massachusetts State Senator and President of GLAAD, Jarrett Barrios, has been selected to be the new head of the Massachusetts Red Cross.

-Universal Pictures cracked one billion dollars domestic gross so far in 2011 and another $1.3 billion in overseas revenues. Someone is getting a nice holiday bonus!

-Violent floods swept Italy this month and the following video will give you a taste of them.

-George W. Bush had to cancel a trip to Switzerland for fear of being arrested on torture charges. Just when you think it is all behind you, that pesky 'War Criminal' sobriquet rears its ugly head....

-Believe it or not, this is not good news. The Brazilian Wandering Spider can cause a four hour erection. Sound good? Not so fast buddy.....it also can cause intense pain and inflammation.

-If the Russian election for President were held today, Vadimir Putin's party would get only 53% according to the latest national poll.

-According to Sky News at least six people are dead in England after some evangelical churches had convinced them that they had been healed of HIV/AIDS by Jesus. They insisted the members of their churches stop taking their meds!

-At least 7% of American homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure. Take a look at these listings for some homes selling for as much as $100 million and they are being bought by the 1%!

-Over 1,300 Germans were arrested (photograph above) as they attempted to stop a shipment of nuclear waste by rail across their country.

-Really bad news has arrived from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. They have run out of money to fund any new grants around the world and won't be making any new ones until 2014!

- Meanwhile, according to CNN, southern American cities such as Atlanta, Memphis, New Orleans, Orlando and Charlotte are showing a dramatic increase in the number of new case of HIV/AIDS

-Incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey looks good for re-election in Pennsylvania. The latest Public Policy Poll has him with the closet Republican candidate still trailing by 11 points.

-To fully understand the impact of the great Japan earthquake watch the following video. It might appear confusing at first because of the language barrier but when it reaches the end of March you will have a shock. You only have to watch the first two and a half minutes. Be patient and check it out.

LGBT History: 1993 LGBT March on Washington

 

 

Without question one of the most historic gatherings in the history of the LGBT movement was the famous 1993 LGBT March on Washington. The march followed two others marches for equality but this one hit at a particular transitional time that caused it huge success. Somewhere between 700,000 to a million marchers descended on our nation's capital in a spirit of hope that, finally, there was light at the end of the tunnel.

The 1980's had been a particularly dark time for the community because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the mass death of thousands of young gay men. Being the era of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, there was little effort on fighting HIV/AIDS and most of our efforts on equality for LGBT Americans were spent fighting repressive legislation.

In 1993, when this march was conceived by legendary activist and intellectual Urvashi Vaid and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, there was a glimmer at the end of the tunnel. There were promising medications on the horizon to treat HIV/AIDS, Clinton had been elected as President promising to be a major advocate for LGBT rights and it appeared that soon the ban on LGBT citizens serving in the military would be over. At initial meetings, there was some reluctance to hold another march so soon after the 1987 March on Washington. However over several meetings held other national groups quickly fell into line and the March on Washington was scheduled for April 25, 1993.

Suddenly everybody wanted to go to Washington! The community desperately needed this positive and powerful expression of our desire to be free after such a disastrous decade and two inactive Presidents. DADT had not even been thought of by the time of the march and many felt this was away to support President Clinton who needed and asked for support from the community in his effort to obtain an Executive Order.

The days leading up to the 1993 event were filled with other events ranging from concerts to religious services at the Lincoln Memorial by the MCC Church on the day of the march. Washington, DC became a city for one weekend with a majority of the people in it being LGBT Americans. Traffic jams at night made moving around the city almost impossible as we attempted to get from one event to the other.

The day of the march the New Jersey Turnpike looked like a sea of buses heading to Washington. Special trains had to be added to handle the flow of marchers coming down from the Northeast Corridor. As far as the eye could see from the stage there was a sea of marchers from the Capitol steps to the Lincoln Memorial. Vaid gave an amazing speech. Others who spoke were Judith Light, Melissa Etheridge, Ian McKellen, Martina Navratilova, LGBT active duty personal and other activists from around the nation.

It was something to behold and this extraordinary video will take right back to this special moment in our history.

Impressions...by David Mixner

 

 

-A massive fire swept the center part of Fire Island and it destroyed the Pavilion and other structures last night. At least one home was burnt to the ground. Among the buildings affected were La Fountaine, Sip N' Twirl and the Pines Bistro.

-The New Public Policy Poll has a new frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination.  Newt Gingrich has 28%, Herman Cain has 25% and Mitt Romney trails Newts by 10 points with only 18%.  Poor Rick Perry is just at 6%.

-A major effort will take place in Washington State to gain full marriage equality over the next year. Unions, faith based groups, national organizations such as HRC and local LGBT groups are determined to have full marriage equality.

-Texas Governor Rick Perry might be saying "Oops!" again today. The new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll shows his support diving to a just mere 4%! Romney has now broken the 30% barrier with 32% and Cain still at a surprising 27%. Good ole Newt has now reached 17%. Could Romney finally be building some momentum?

-The President and Ms. Obama attended the APEC conference in Hawaii with Asian leaders. Handling much of the logistics for the entertaining of the leaders was White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard.

-Ohio is a must win state in 2012 and the President should be feeling good about it this week. After Labor's huge victory in the Nov 8th election, the polls show the President leading all of his Republican opposition by a comfortable margin. Romney comes closest but still 9 points behind Obama!

-Lots of fuss about the latest 11-11-11 numbers on the calendar. A hundred years ago with the same numbers in Janesville, Wisconsin they had a tornado that day that killed 9 people and then in one hour was in the middle of a raging blizzard! Now that is suffering!

-Poz.com is reporting that donations to HIV/AIDS organizations dropped 7% in 2010 compared to the previous year. Not only is the government cutting funds but so are many private foundations and corporations.

-LGBT citizens overseas see their situation grow graver by the day . Towleroad.com reports that in two states in Malaysia the penalties for being a homosexual could double and LGBT citizens could receive horrible caning and up to 40 years in prison which for some is like a life sentence.

-Handsome David Testo has become the first out MLS player. Testo used to play for soccer's Columbus Crew. He is still an active player with the Montreal Impact which joins the MLS next year. Testo was "Most Valuable Player in 2009." You can read more about him at Outsports.com.

-Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in Florida suddenly has a serious Republican to face in 2012. Congressman Connie Mack (the son of the a former US Senator) has decided to throw his hat into the ring. Polls show them running even. Rate this as a new toss-up race

-Change.org has launched a petition drive directed at the Los Angeles Police Department. Seems some enlightened person in the department has decided that it is not possible to 'rape a gay man.' It is hard to believe a sane person can hold that belief in this day and age.

-"Other Desert Cities" has become a huge hit on Broadway running at near capacity. Expect tons of Tony nominations around this production come awards season next spring!

-This is the first picture that I have seen of a young Mitt Romney on a Mormon mission in France in 1968. What you might not know is that the young Romney used his mission work to obtain deferments so he wouldn't have to go to Vietnam!

-Head over to the San Francisco Library for an important exhibit on LGBT history. The special exhibition is displaying the story of the first LGBT person to run for office. Jose Julio Sarria ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961! He was a drag performer at the famous Black Cat bar and received an amazing 5,600 votes!

-Allow me to offer special thanks to all my friends who have been so kind to help promote my book, "At Home With Myself" on Facebook, Twitter and Goggle +. Being unable to make a book tour because of health reasons it meant the world to me. Thank you so very, very much.

-Susan Boyle's "Someone To Watch Over Me" became her third album to top the UK's charts. She beat out some of the leading pop stars of this generation.

-Should we consider letting Texas become an independent nation? Even Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum beat Obama in that puzzling and bizarre state!

-Only 9% of American approve of Congress according to the latest poll. If it goes much lower, then we will know even the families of the elected's are voting against them!

-The Insider Poll shows that Gingrich is now in second place in South Carolina trailing Cain by only 6 points.

-The new Politico/ George Washington University Poll shows Obama is vulnerable but he still leads Romney by 6%.

-The Barracks Bar in Palm Springs had a police incident this past weekend. Seems the Fire Marshall thought the bar was overcrowded. Now, I am all for safety standards in packed bars however instead of working with management to remove some folks they sent police, lights and what seemed like the entire force. This sounds more like harassment than overcrowding.