The legacy of HIV activists is under threat. How do we turn the tide?

The legacy of HIV activists is under threat. How do we turn the tide?

From QueerAF | Inspiring LGBTQIA+ stories told by emerging queer creatives by QueerAF

June 1, 2026 · 34 min · Season 7 · Episode 2

About this episode

The episode discusses the legacy of Lou Sullivan and the current challenges in HIV activism amidst rising cases.

Lou Sullivan is known to many as a first. One of the first openly gay trans men in public life, widely considered the first known case of a trans man developing AIDS, and later the first trans man known to die of an AIDS-related illness. His story, his legacy, is a complex one, though. A pioneer of history and archiving, as well as on the front lines of HIV advocacy, we look back at his life at a time when we should be only years away from ending the HIV pandemic. Instead, because of cuts made by the Trump administration, HIV is on the rise in some places for the first time in years. This week on the QueerAF podcast, as we mark ten years of making podcasts, we kick off season 7 with an episode from reporter Alex-Parnham Cope. Episode Credits:  Reporter and producer, Alexander Parnham Cope . Executive production by Amber Devereux and  Jamie Wareham . This episode was produced as part of QueerAF's Trans+ History Week mentoring programme with thanks to Trans+ History Week's Creative Talent Sponsor, Publicis Groupe UK. We've made the illustration for this episode available on Creative Commons so more people can celebrate Lou Sullivan's legacy. Find out more here. Sign up as…

People in this episode

Host: QueerAF

Guest: Alexander Parnham Cope

Topics covered

  • HIV activism
  • trans history
  • LGBTQIA+ advocacy
  • public health
  • AIDS awareness

Keywords

  • HIV
  • AIDS
  • trans men
  • activism
  • public health
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Lou Sullivan

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