RIP Elizabeth Taylor

I am too young to have seen any of her memorable performances in theaters but I have seen some of her best work. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Who is Afraid of Virginia Wolfe are magnificent. But her entire career pales in comparison to the role of a lifetime she played in the 1980's. Being a gay man in the mid 1980's was no picnic at all. AIDS and the fear of AIDS was running rampant. Pools in West Virginia were literally emptied and cleaned with bleach after a gay man who was thought to have AIDS swam in them. Mailmen refused to deliver mail to people with AIDS. People who died of AIDS couldn't be buried. We were literally carriers of the modern version of black death.

Into that fray waded the glamorous Elizabeth Taylor who was a voice of reason. People all over middle America had their minds changed about AIDS and the people who were associated with AIDS. She was there for AIDS and by extension gay men long before most straight allies did. Gay men my age owe her a huge debt. I will miss her terribly.

friends dressed in do it yourself roman/egyptian costumes. we even made a little sea battle in a wading pool and lit the popsicle stick and paper cup ships on fire with lighter fluid. It was awesome! Wish I still had the movies and no, I did not get in drag and play Cleopatra, we had a "real girl" do that one.

As a nurse, I too remember the 80's and the fear of AIDS.

Gowns and gloves for casual contact--we weren't to have any type of contact with an infected person.

They were served their food on disposable dishes.

It was horrendous.

I was primarily impressed with the quality of person she was.

raising a glass to a great, compassionate lady.......

RIP

She was a beautiful, kind, gentle yet boisterous soul who lived and suffered life to the fullest. Although she'd been ailing for some time, so I'm glad she's no longer in pain. I don't think enough can be said about what she did for people suffering with AIDS. In one fell swoop she helped erase much of the stigma, scorn and ignorance directed towards the victims of this horrible disease.

...

:kick:

united in awe of her incredible talent. She was legend.