Later, after we'd broken into that research world and began to carry responsibilities there, conflicts would arise about whether treatment activism was a legitimate form of direct action at all. All the while, a relentless tide of death carried away some of the movement's most beloved, charismatic and inspiring leaders and members. Some ACT UP factions wanted to disengage from research meetings and didn't want to work with other community groups and activists. They interrupted conferences to protest two studies, ACTG 076 and ACTG 175. If they'd been successful, two of the most dramatic discoveries of the 1990s would never have occurred.
Activists can impede research as well as improve it.
A few weeks ago I called Larry Kramer for a peace talk. We hadn't spoken for several years. I asked him how his lover was, how his dog was, how his T-cells were. We started talking about whether or not we were at a turning point in the epidemic, and if so what to do. I thought about it.