Gay stereotypes and AIDS in the media late 80s
1988
“It was the height
of the AIDS epidemic, there was such a fear. They see things on telly,
these stereotypes of HIV / AIDS in the late 80s. There were a lot of
government adverts that looked like Goth-Rock videos that spelled
death. That if you had sex you would die immediately of AIDS. The
paranoia and 'Don't die of ignorance' was very prevalent. The adverts
said 'At the moment it's confined to minority groups but it's
spreading. Everybody knew what that meant, that meant gay men. There
were these adverts with tombstones and underwater scenes and flowers
falling. 'Don't Die of Ignorance' with leaflets put through the door.
Contributed by: Derek, 35