Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert that has become the leading voice of reason on COVID-19 in the United States, has opened up about his experience dealing with another national epidemic: the AIDS crisis. Much as with the conspiracy theorist fanatics of COVID, AIDS conspiracy theorists did their best to silence Fauci, including sending him death threats.
Fauci recalled to Fesh Air host Terry Gross the chaos and fear of the AIDS years. Gay activist Larry Kramer openly accused Fauci of murder during the epidemic, and activists staged violent protests outside Fauci’s office in the National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases. They also began to personally harass Fauci, threatening his life.
“The activists were justified in their concerns,” Fauci reflected. “They seemed like they were threatening, but never for a single moment did I ever feel threatened by the AIDS activists.”
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Fauci went on to reveal that he did his own amount of field research–by showing up to gay bathhouses in New York and San Francisco. The aim, he says, was to get a first-hand look at the sexual practices to gain a better understanding of how HIV was spread.
“I rapidly came to the conclusion that if I were in their position, I would be doing exactly what they were doing,” he said of AIDS activists.
Fauci then explained to Gross the jarring reaction to COVID-19 among the general public. Whereas during the AIDS epidemic, protesters begged for experimental therapies and drugs aimed at saving their lives, protesters during COVID didn’t want to know anything about vaccines, treatment or how to prevent spread of the disease. Fauci also received death threats for his attempts at educating the public.
“It makes my head explode a bit,” he added.
In the same interview, Fauci also draws parallels between the inaction of presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump–how neither man would use executive power to curb the spread of the virus or educate the public.
Ultimately, Fauci noted that advances in medical science allowed for the development of drugs that would treat HIV, no longer making it a death sentence. Fauci added that he believes that science also offers a way out of the COVID-19 pandemic through new vaccine technology.
Listen to the full interview here.
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MiguelInVanCT
I love this guy, he stoop up to Trump when he was being told to push a false narrative, and now, he is able to empathize to past events and his effort to educate himself better.
barryaksarben
The responses to these two events prove once again we are better citizens than most
WindChime
How utterly offensive for those disgruntled AIDS denialists back then to attack this respectable doctor and specialist? Many gays who behaved recklessly in the 80s and 90s and then denied that HIV caused AIDS are just as bad as, if not worse than, today’s Covid denialists.
Den
If HE is willing to give AIDS activists a pass, based on his understanding of what they were asking for and their desperation, where do you come off with your ignorant post and prissy tone?
Clearly you were either a child or not yet born back then. Or perhaps disingenuously trying to troll?
Den
AIDS denialists attacked other gay folks and anyone who advanced the notion that HIV caused AIDS. They were essentially science deniers in the same way today’s anti vaxxers and mask refusers are. I remember friends who, even when they were dying, refused to believe the science and instead gave their money to scammers like Louise Hay (thankfully dead) who told them the problem was they did not love themselves enough!
AIDS activists attacked the NIH and Dr. Fauci for what they saw as a lack of interest in doing the research necessary to find drugs or “a cure,”
inbama
The most serious denialist was a gay weekly newspaper called “The New York Native.”
lambchopp59
I’m curious if this denialism was a regional phenomenon. I was in San Francisco throughout those years, doing my internship at St Mary’s, never heard of this, knew of no one denying any of the science, participated in Project Open Hand and the Quilt project.
Oh, there was massive frustration alright, with the Reagan admin’s total shine-on of the epidemic. I lost 5 close friends, and cared for countless others who certainly had no denial of any of the factual information we had at the time.
Fname Optional Lname
I love that he knew how to beat Trump at his own game. He was able to get information to the public that Trump did not want out there and he managed to not get fired which by itself is a major feat considering how many the big Orange one disposed of for things as simple as merely having a difference of opinion. They should make Dr Fauci dolls for kids, he’s a true role model! I would buy a Fauci doll in a minute!
Yidan
He really should be validated with a Noble prize, just sayin’
lambchopp59
Concur. But after an appropriate period of relief, once the work of mass immunity is locked in and we can put this damn thing behind us all.
8millionandcounting
Fauci is effortlessly, effectively and natural at both book and street smarts. He ran circles around the last President and probably totally exasperted that fat uck.
@Yidan. Nobel Prize. Indeed. Hear, hear!!
butchqueen
Trump needs to be held accountable for lying about the virus and silencing scientists because he is a selfish prick who cared more about re-election than American lives.
Max
agreed. but the Trump fans in congress are just going to let it slide.
ScottOnEarth
What an amazing human being Dr Fauci is. The voice of reason, logic, kindness, patience and intelligence. He never waivers in his resolve to simply do the right thing for the general public. He bravely withstood trump’s failed attempts at discrediting him and came out on top. He is certainly a living legend to whom we all owe tremendous gratitude.
cuteguy
Didn’t Reagan deny the AIDS epidemic as portrayed in the film the normal heart? I’m just bringing up that point bc one can compare and contrast with Trump denying the current worldwide pandemic. And isn’t Reagan the epitome of Republicans now so I wonder if Trump will be the epitome of the future of the GQP, especially since they currently endorse Q’ANON and Majorie Biggot Thomas. Hopefully the GOP will be eradicated along with covid one day
Hdtex
Reagan didn’t deny the epidemic in the least. He just refused to act because it was “killing all the right people “. Fact.
Cam
Look at how Dr. Fauci handled himself compared to Dr. Birx. She sat there and let Trump spew all that garbage out about injecting disinfectant, etc.
NOW she’s trying to go on TV and claim that behind the scenes she was trying to do the right thing. Meanwhile Fauci would be delicate about it, but he would say when there were problems and when information was not true.
trell
This guy is a hero!
I love the fact that he selflessly, purely in the interest of science, went to gay bathhouses to examine the sexual activities of the sexual practices of the clientele….Next, time, Dr Fauci, please let me know, so I can help out!!
…seriously, though, Fauci genuinely needs to be recognised as a real American hero – someone who was resilient enough to fight others for what he believed in, and whose outlook and passion was for the benefit of every single person in the USA, regardless of their belief, political leaning, ethnicity, sexuality or religion.
GayEGO
Dr. Fauci is a great example of one we should listen too, he is a scientist and highly respected, unlike Trump.
lambchopp59
Second the motion to nominate Dr Fauci for Nobel, medal of freedom, some sort of recognition for sticking to his scientific factual “guns” while pandemic enablers of the Frump misadministration were bumbling. After an appropriate period of grieving for the needless loss of over half a million U.S. citizens, of course.
It never had to come to that, had the Trumpers not been so obtuse.
DanQMak
This note is directed to the author of this piece: Please spell the name of the radio show correctly: It is FRESH Air not Fesh Air. Correctly spelling proper names of a nationally known radio program lends an air of credibility to the story one writes; a simple “spell check” would have uncovered the typo. This misspelling reminds me of Sidney Powell’s typos in the Court cases she filed.