Resisting State and Professional Management of AIDS Organizations: Memories of AIDS Organizing in ‘Canada,’ 1983-1990.

DEDICATED TO MICHAEL SMITH: 1958- FEB. 5, 1991.

EPP = DEATH Entry point into talk Recently found banner – importance to

memory of objects, contexts and histories.

ACTIONS AT THE CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON AIDS, 1988

May 14-15 CAS conference, followed by the Canadian Conference on AIDS, May 16-17th. On May 16th a combined die-in outside and unfurling an “EPP=Death” banner at the opening session.

AIDS ACTIVISM HEATS UP

The next day at the closing of the conference a large demo of about 300 people took over the streets and burnt an effigy of Jake Epp at Nathan Philips Square.

EFFECTIVE ACTIVISM BRINGING TOGETHER AIDS ACTIVISTS AND PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY BASED AIDS GROUPS

A few weeks later Epp was called into Mulroney’s office and asked why people in Toronto were so angry with him that they were burning him in effigy.

Important composition of struggle bringing AIDS activists and many people involved in what are becoming ASOs together against state neglect and inaction. Can this be rebuilt or remade in our new historical context?

CREATING BASIS FOR ‘NATIONAL AIDS STRATEGY’

Creates basis for development of ‘National AIDS Strategy’ and some important advances like the Treatment Registry but also the new state/professional regulatory strategy of ‘consultation’ and ‘partnership.’

STARTING FROM MEMORY WORK

Pain, mourning, anguish, but also anger and rage – AIDS activism politicizing this – Deborah Gould.

FIRST WAVE OF AIDS ORGANIZING AND ITS TRANSFORMATION

“GAY PLAGUE HAS ARRIVED IN CANADA”Toronto Star, 1982.

Community organizations initially drawing on aspects of feminist health activism.

One of first 3 employees of ACT. Safe sex education Support work -- Gay waiters – who gets excluded? Class and professionalization.

FIRST WAVE OF AIDS ORGANIZING AND ITS TRANSFORMATION

Liaison work with the Haitian community – professional relations and racism.

From Community based groups to AIDS-Service Organizations. Funding, Boards of Directors, control over funding. Away from advocacy and activism. Work of Roxana Ng. Incorporation and charitable tax status.

NEW WAVE OF AIDS ACTIVISM BASED ON SURVIVAL AND TREATMENT ACCESS

From AIDS ‘victim’ to people living with AIDS/HIV.

Vancouver PWA Coalition formed by Kevin Brown, Warren Jensen, and Taavi Nurmela. March 26, 1986 march for a viral laboratory in BC in Victoria. Push for access to AZT.

ACT UP – SILENCE = DEATH Impact of ACT UP groups forming in US.

Contradiction between knowledge of promising treatments and survival and being denied them. Only public health and palliative care. Direct Action politics.

FORMATION OF AIDS ACTION NOW! Group of HIV+ men, gay activists, and

primary-care physicians start to meet in later 87.

Large community meeting inspired by Right to Privacy Committee and ACT.

FIRST ACTION FOR ACCESS TO AEROSOLIZED PENTAMIDINE AND OPPOSITION TO A TRIAL WITH “CLINICAL ENDPOINTS.”

March 25, 88 First AAN! Demo. 500 people. From the 519 to TGH with empty coffins to symbolize those who would die in the trial because they were not given AP. Challenge to standard research and ‘science’ – treatment access. Ended with a vigil outside the hospital.

TREATMENT ACTIVISM

Bringing in drugs from Buffalo. The Pentamidine Project. Taking treatments on Parliament Hill – May 25, 88. Focus on treatment information and

access. Non-cooperation forces development of National AIDS strategy – commitment to treatment information.

TREATMENT ACTIVISM

DDI In 1989 realized we were up against not only state and medical professional relations but also up against drug companies – refusal to release ddi on compassionate grounds. While a media conference was going on we

attempted to occupy the office of Brystol Myers. Seven of us were arrested. First civil disobedience DA ever involved in.

WINNING EXPANDED TREATMENT ACCESS

As a result of this DA protest and our documents and media work – as George Smith put it we

needed documents and demonstrations – we got expanded treatment access, treatment arms in clinical trials, and more release through the EDRP on

compassionate grounds.

TAKING OVER THE OPENING OF THE MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE

Initiated by ACT UP NYC, AIDS ACTION NOW! and Reaction SIDA take over the opening of the Montreal AIDS Conference in 89.

MULRONEY YOU HAVE LEFT US TO DIE!

When Mulroney finally speaks to officially open the conference we unfurl a banner saying “Mulroney you have left us to die” and AIDS activists turn their backs to him pointing to their watches.

By the end of the conference a closing speaker Don deGagne from the Vancouver PWA Coalition is added in.

BROADENING OUT THE ACTIVISM AND MAKING THE CONNECTIONS

Racialization, gender and class. Sex workers, injection drug users, hemophiliacs, prisoners, social assistance and paying for drugs.

AIDS: SILENCE = DEATH, ACTION =LIFE We fought against the early

homosexualization of AIDS; developed erotic-positive safer sex and safer practices; supported people living with AIDS/HIV; and through direct action pushed for and won greater treatment access. Direct action = Life

THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF FORGETTING AND THE RESISTANCE OF REMEMBERING

Ruling and the social organization of forgetting activism and resistance – that we have and can change the world. The antidote is the resistance of remembering in an embodied fashion.

DIRECT ACTION = LIFE

Safe sex as an erotic, community practice. Not criminalization of people with HIV. The Global South and the need to transfer wealth and resources. The Montreal Manifesto. AIDS as a condensation of all social relations. Winning treatment access for many in the North.

RESISTING BUREAUCRATIZATION AND ‘PROFESSIONALIZATION’

Resisting state and professional regulation- commitment to grass roots activism and organizing.

Resisting strategies of ‘consultation’ and ‘participation.’

How to get resources while at the same time avoiding regulation and constraint. Within/Against/Beyond.

Addressing class and state relations as central.

THANKS TO:

Alexis, the AIDS Activist History Project, and to Alex and this conference organizing committee.* AAN! and Rites magazine for photos. To those who have been involved in the PWA Coalitions, ACT UP groups and AIDS ACTION NOW! including all those who died. To my partner Patrick and our son Mike.