The remembrance, heartbreak & protest of the AIDS quilt
This Pride Month, we remember how just 35 years ago, America was in the middle of another public health crisis — one that disproportionately affected gay men, as well as communities of color.
But the tragedy of the HIV/AIDS epidemic also produced one remarkable piece of art that first captured the world’s attention in 1987.
We're talking about a quilt made of pieces sent by people across the United States, each naming a victim of the deadly disease. It originally spanned a football field, but now covers 1.3 million square feet.
For many, the AIDS Memorial Quilt has served as the memorial service they never had. Earlier in June, a big chunk was unveiled to mark the anniversary in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
This video is part of an upcoming episode of GZERO World with Ian Bremmer.