Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the way in which the AIDS crisis has brought forth the underlying tension between the gay community and the general public. The writer argues that the fight against AIDS has brought the whole society together in recognizing not only the vulnerability of each individual, but also the fundamental unity of humanity.

From the Paper:

"The impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has brought to the forefront the gay community's redefinition of the concept of family. Contrary to the common perception of family as "the family of procreation," the family of gay individuals includes lovers and friends. During the AIDS crisis, many gay individuals have relied upon the support of their gay family. Therefore, difficulties over the rights of each "family" emerge when the gay individual dies. Thus, this definition that was once simply enforced within the gay communities became a political, social and economic issue that had to be determined in court cases (Nardi, 1997, pp. 59-61). With increasing recognition in court battles and public forums, the perception of gay individuals as having domestic relationships has replaced the sexual image of gay individuals. The AIDS crisis has highlighted the fact that gay families did not have many advantages of typical families, such as spousal benefits (Nardi, 1997, p. 78)."

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