David Flanagan won’t ever forget the HIV/AIDS-related death of his son Josh, complete with bedsores, a collapsed lung, and health care workers who seemed to know little about how to treat him. It was a fate suffered by too many gay men in the ‘80s. Josh, however, died just two years ago and only 5 months after being diagnosed HIV-positive.
David, 54, is participating in this week’s AIDS/LifeCycle, along with his wife Talana, to tell the story of their 27-year-old son who died without access to the care that could have saved him.
Friends of Josh invited David to ride with the “New Bear Republic Team.” David didn’t understand the relevance of the term “bear” until he joined the guys in San Francisco for the start of the 545-mile ride to Los Angeles. Now he’s as happy and proud as his son to identify as a bear.
From a rural town in Texas, they’ve joined about 3,000 other people, from nearly every state in the union and 21 countries, to raise a record $16.3 million for San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV/AIDS-related services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
Related Article: This Air Force Captain Used Grindr And Scruff To Raise $59K To Fight HIV
This emotional short video tells their story:
jason smeds
It’s very sad what happened to this man’s son. He’s a good father and it shows in his dedication to fund-raising.
McShane
New Bear Republic’s goal was $500,000. They have already raised $619,580. That’s amazing.
AzLights
Wonderful. You GO, Papa Bear!
Saint Law
The grief in his mum’s voice. Just so fucking sad.
Saint Law
How did it happen he was allowed to die? The film doesn’t go in to it.
Clark35
Very sad about his son.