The first reports of AIDS and the gay blood drive …
In May 1981 the first reports of what later became known as AIDS began to appear in the gay paper, New York Native, and The
New York Times, but how did our local gay papers cover the story. Let's take a look at GayLife.
GayLife's first mention of the disease was in the June 19, 1981 issue. The article read: 'A type of pneumonia has been found in
five young men, two of whom died, and may be linked to 'some aspect of the gay lifestyle,' according to the U.S. Public Health
Service's Center for Disease Control. Between October 1980 and May 1981 the five, all active gay men, were treated for pneumonia
caused by Pneumocystis carnii parasite. The center reported in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 'The fact that these patients
were all homosexual suggests an association between some aspect of homosexual lifestyle or disease acquired through sexual
contact and pneumocystis pneumonia.''
Ironically, in the same issue on the front page, there was an article titled: 'Gay blood drive Sunday.' It began: 'Members of
Chicago's gay community are being urged to donate blood for the city's first lesbian and gay blood drive … .'
The gay blood drive was organized by Congregation Or Chadash, Chicago's gay and lesbian Jewish group, with the full co-operation
of Mid-America Regional Blood Services of the American Red Cross.
After the initial news item, the mysterious disease known as Gay Cancer was occasionally reported in GayLife as National News,
but did not appear to be a local issue. So little was known about the disease that the headline on the cover of the June 11, 1982 issue
of GayLife —a year after the first report—was 'Blood drive starts.' The article began: 'The second annual Chicago gay and lesbian
blood drive will be held … .'
Later that year fundraisers began to take place locally for what was now called AIDS. In November 1982, two performances of
Cornucopia raised almost $11,000 for Howard Brown Memorial Clinic. The money was used to support the clinic's Action AIDS
program. At this time bars like Inner Circle at 2546 N. Clark St. began to raise money for AIDS.
On Jan. 13, 1983 an editorial appears on the front page of GayLife: 'AIDS raises medical, political concerns.' On Page 6 at the
end of an article titled 'New leads reported on AIDS causes, treatment,' it reads: 'In Chicago, as of December 10 (1982), CDC figures
showed 13 known cases. Four additional cases have been reported elsewhere in Illinois, and there have been 10 AIDS-related
deaths in the state.'
Another article at the bottom of the page is headed 'Gay blood drive plans suspended,' and begins: 'The Chicago Red Cross
would 'probably' refuse blood donations from self-identified gay men, according to a spokesperson for the health organization.
'At this point, we have not changed our screening procedures to identify and exclude formally from giving blood male homosexuals
and other high risk groups,' said Cindy Ryskamp, a Red Cross blood services specialist.
'But,' said Ryskamp, 'If an individual came into our office at this time and said, 'I am gay and I want to give blood' … in practice,
we would probably say, 'No, we prefer not to (take his blood) at this time.''
Peter Kessler, a representative of the group, told GayLife: 'In view of the possibility that AIDS may be transmitted by blood, the
men and women of Congregation Or Chadash have decided to suspend planning for their annual Red Cross blood drive. We hope
that when the medical profession has a breakthrough regarding the cause of AIDS that Or Chadash may continue this service to the
community. Until we know exactly what's going on, we want to be very careful not to harm anyone. As soon as we hear that it's not
transmitted by blood or that there is an effective screening process, we will resume planning for the blood drive.'
Even though there were very few recorded cases of AIDS in Chicago at that time, the bars stepped forward to raise money. In
January 1983 there were benefits at the Gold Coast, BJ's, Christopher Street, Touche, Baton, Bushes, Paradise, and Guzzlers.
Do you have any memories of the early days of AIDS in Chicago? If you have memories to share, contact Sukie de la Croix at Windy
City Times. You can leave a message on his voicemail at 773-871-7610. He interviews over the phone, in person, or via e-mail
sukiedelacroix@ozhasspoken.com