BBC Radio documentary will chart how AIDS changed America
A special documentary to mark the 20th anniversary of the first World AIDS Day has been commissioned by BBC Radio 2.
How AIDS Changed America will be presented by actor Paul Michael Glaser, of Starsky and Hutch fame, and will air on BBC Radio 2 at 10.30pm on December 2nd.
Mr Glaser, whose wife and daughter died of an AIDS-related illness after his wife contracted the virus through a blood transfusion, will look back at nearly three decades of pain, prejudice and progress in the American peoples’ struggle with the virus.
Ashley Byrne, creative director of production company Made in Manchester Productions, told PinkNews.co.uk:
“Through archive, some of it collected by former Washington Post journalist John-Manuel Andriote, as well as new interviews, How AIDS Changed America examines how the crisis really did change attitudes.
“John (diagnosed HIV-positive himself in 2005) has spent more than 20 years researching the issue and is one of the leading experts on America’s AIDS story and has been vital to this programme.
“This documentary is an emotional and historic rollercoaster through 27 years of struggle and includes powerful testimonies from people who have lived half their lives with HIV.”
Those recalling the early days of HIV/AIDS in America in the documentary include Cleve Jones, founder of the HIV/AIDS Memorial Quilt, controversial gay rights activist Larry Kramer and Paul Michael Glaser himself.
