1985: Film Screening, by Tania Garcia

  On Saturday, December 1st, I went to the Denver Sie Filmcenter and watched the 1985 film screening, presented by CinemaQ, in honor of World AIDS Day. Before the film began, Keith, a CinemaQ representative introduced us to the film and the larger theme it addressed. He posed questions about our understanding about the aids epidemic and of World AIDS Day. After the short Q&A, Keith went on to tell us the importance of World AIDS Day as it signifies a day in which we, globally, remember those who died from it, raise awareness and support for those that live with AIDS, and continue efforts to expand treatment and de-stigmatization.
     Although the time setting, 1985, is a little outdated, Yen Tan presents his audience with a powerful and time appropriate story. One that had us laughing and crying (I, with others, were in a puddle of tears) but most importantly provided a space for us to learn and reflect. Not only were we given the opportunity to think about AIDS in terms of the past but in terms of the present and future as well. 

     The film follows the story of Adrian, a young gay man who returns home in Texas for the holidays, after being in New York for 3 years. He has yet to reveal to his family that he is gay and that he is dying from AIDS. In attempts to reconcile and be with those he loved one last time, he lies about his job, living arrangements and his reason for leaving. Adrian’s family is conservatively white and follows the Christian tradition; both Adrian and his younger brother find difficulty in conforming and behaving under their father’s rigid ideals. He is able to reconcile with his brother and childhood friend Carly. It is later revealed in the movie, that Adrian’s father knew that he was gay and had refused to come to terms with it, while his mother isn’t as conservative as her husband thinks she is. Before departing for New York, Adrian asks Carly to tell his brother what really happened to him. While he’s waiting at the airport, Adrian’s younger brother listens to a tape Adrian recorded, offering him advice and reassurance for what is yet to come. Despite the sad ending and singular perspective, the significance behind the movie and it's connection to World AIDS Day, brings about another question of queer justice. 

     Before attending this film screening, I didn't know about World AIDS Day and was unaware as to what it did or how it was important. According to the worldaidsday.org website, "World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and government that HIV has not gone away - there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education." The same things that the World AIDS Day is designed to address and tackle, are the means by which violence against people with AIDS in the U.S. continues. According to Avert, a global and educational information website, there are about 1.1 million people living with AIDS in the U.S. Despite advancements in treatment and knowledge, the U.S. has an ongoing HIV epidemic. And as the blog comments, there a few, key affected populations. Gay men of color (black and Latino), transgender folk, prisoners, addicts and young people. Much of the increase in HIV cases is because of the lack of education and stigma surrounding HIV. Most adults in the U.S. and about half of those infected by HIV do not get tested. This is indicative of larger, overarching problems, such as poverty and race. It is in this sense where intersectionality is more perceivable and extends into other forms of institutional oppression. Privilege and opportunity being one of the main reasons by which most of those affected by an intersecting oppression cannot become part of the conversation. The World AIDS Day purpose is that, to bring the experiences of other marginalized people living with AIDS into light.