Patrick McCann was a member of London’s ACT UP in the late 1980s, a movement that used direct, disruptive action to bring about change for people living with and affected by AIDS.
I joined ACT UP in 1989 when I was in my final year of a law degree at King’s in London. In those days, they met one evening a week at the Lesbian & Gay Centre. The group’s aim was to bring attention to discriminatory practices against people with AIDS.
One of the tactics was civil disobedience in order to bring attention to the cause when so many people were turning away and ignoring those dying. There were kiss-ins and members would lie in the streets. The group threw blood-coloured paint on the Australian Embassy as at the time they wouldn’t let you into the country if you were HIV positive.
ACT UP was particularly trying to put pressure on governments to find a cure, as well as to stop discrimination in terms of housing, immigration and employment, to find effective treatments and to remove the stigma surrounding people with HIV and AIDS.
Derek Jarman and Jimmy Sommerville were two prominent members – both of whom fairly regularly got themselves arrested on demonstrations. Police would wear rubber gloves and were violent.
The group was also a feeder cell through to Terrence Higgins Trust back then and that kind of support – in terms of legal, wills, employment, housing and other support – was all done through them.
ACT UP’s symbol is the pink triangle, which was previously used by the Nazis to identify those considered to be gay men in concentration camps. Originally intended as a badge of shame, it was reclaimed and inverted to show power – we had a strong, stable base. Then I like to think the prick at the top was symbolic of action and agitation.
The slogan is Silence=Death, which meant if we didn’t do anything – if we didn’t make noise – then governments wouldn’t pay attention, medical provision wouldn’t be put in place and people would get ill and die.
Cheddar Gorgeous’s pink triangle look on this season’s Drag Race was wonderful to see. It’s a beautiful depiction done in a way that means people get interested and get educated. It’s important for young people to know that we stand on the shoulders of dead people and to hear more about groups like ACT UP.
Many people fought and died for our rights. So thank God Drag Race had the foresight to put someone of Cheddar’s intelligence, age and bravery on the show – as well as someone who is so articulate.
It wasn’t through disruption or agitation, but through the conversations in the workroom with the other queens and that iconic runway look, Cheddar has had a big impact in changing perceptions of HIV, celebrating PrEP and the achievable goal of ending new HIV cases.
As well as remembering why that goal is in sight – because of those who came before. Who lay down in the streets, who protested, who rioted and who wouldn’t accept silence and inaction.
Cheddar Gorgeous’s 'pink triangle' outfit is being raffled to support the work of Terrence Higgins Trust and George House Trust. You can buy a raffle ticket for £2.50 via Raffall.
