And The Band Played On

In San Francisco, after diagnosing a patient with AIDS, Conant is surprised when the patient responds, “Well, I’m off to the baths” (413). Although the man knows he has AIDS, he continues to have sex, and he does not tell his partners, prompting concern from Conant. As Public Health Director, Mervyn Silverman wants to keep his popular image by being vague around the issue of bathhouse closures and wishes that others would take responsibility instead.

Conant discusses the issue with Bill, who agrees that the bathhouses need stronger regulation, as data shows that among those that frequented them, “1 in 12 patrons probably was already in the early stages of AIDS infection” (415).

Although the community needs more time to think these truths over, Bill “figured that by the time the gay community had run through this complicated psychological marathon to acceptance, a good share of them would be dead. Time was a luxury the gay community could not afford” (415). So, he leaks the statistics to the San Francisco Chronicle. The subsequent backlash by the gay community leaders is “choleric,” as they do not want to be policed.

As Gary’s health deteriorates, he opts to try a new drug. Meanwhile, in New York, Larry tries to get himself back on the board of the GMHC with unsuccessful results.

In Utah, Michael Gottlieb organizes a conference of experts working on AIDS, and during a scheduled talk, a scientist from the NCI tries to run his presentation overtime to prevent the scientists from the Pasteur Institute from speaking. Finally, Jean-Claude Chermann, the French researcher, gets the stage and “[lays] out the impressive evidence from widespread blood testing linking LAV to AIDS” (419). The French scientists solve the mystery behind AIDS. 

Gary decides to stop therapy as he begins to accept his reality. Matt and Lu also respect his decision in light of his suffering. At the hospital, Gary is a much-loved patient with nurses enjoying being around him: “We don’t feel like we’re here for Gary. We feel like Gary is here for us” (424).

When his nephew, Rick, and his wife come to visit Gary, he brings his father, who is Gary’s older brother. The two have not spoken in years; his brother breaks down. Gary feels that his time is coming to an end and tells his family that this is the last time he expects to see them and expresses his love for them. Later that night, Lu realizes that death has made Gary the essence of unconditional love as “[p]eople came away from conversations with Gary like pilgrims leaving a holy shrine” (425). He gives Lu a gift he had saved for her, a figurine of a magician.

The next day, after his breathing becomes labored, he tries to sit up and move, but the fluids begin to fill his lungs until he slips into a coma. On February 21, the morning after, Gary’s breathing stops. Matt informs Gary’s family.

At the memorial service, 300 mourners gathered, including those who “were aspiring gay political personage who may not have known Gary but understood that this was a correct event to attend” (427). Gary appears in a premade video shown at his funeral talking about his visions and that there were people to help him transition to “the other side” (427), which soothes many. In the end, Lu delivers the eulogy with the line: “How do you describe a star whose too-brief journey lit up so many lives?” (428).

The French researchers send a vial of LAV for the CDC to make its antibody tests. Afterward, when the lab staffers test specimens, they discover that “[t]he positive antibody tests came from all the AIDS risk groups” (429).

In DC, Gallo declares that he has found the cause of AIDS, validating the findings of the French, which excites Curran. However, Gallo is hesitant to share the breadth of his results with the CDC due to their past tensions with the NCI. Therefore, he doesn’t tell them that he has forty-eight isolates of the virus.

In San Francisco, the Irwin Memorial Blood Bank faces a problem when a blood transfusion case concerning a wealthy housewife shows signs of AIDS. Similarly, a nurse who received a transfusion during a hysterectomy also exhibited similar symptoms. With a possible lawsuit ahead, the president of the blood bank, Brian McDonough, announces that they would “begin testing for antibodies to the core of the hepatitis B virus” (433).

In San Francisco, Larry Littlejohn, a gay activist, takes the “initiative to ban sexual activity in gay baths” (436). Although this causes political tensions and Bill Kraus worries, it does build pressure on Silverman to shut the bathhouse. Afterward, a group of gay leaders and physicians decide to support Silverman by drafting a statement approving the closure of the bathhouses and Bill enlists fifty leaders to endorse him. Later, however, Selma Dritz receives a call: “Silverman will be killed tomorrow if he closes the baths” (438). 

In San Francisco, the plans to close the bathhouse are on shaky ground as Silverman is faced with a conflicted gay community, and he wanted to avoid “a confrontation that pitted gays against the health department” (440). Gay leaders and others who had signed the letter were now withdrawing their support not only for fear of opposition but also because “Silverman had wavered in the public forum” (440). When Cleve backs off, Bill swears to never forgive him “for deserting him at this most crucial juncture” (441).

With all the animosity, Silverman decides to delay making any decision on the bathhouses, embarrassing those who had supported him in the closure and causing further fury. Later, an editorial piece reveals all those who signed to close the bathhouses in what becomes known as the “traitor list,” which “[i]n many ways […] was an honor roll of veterans of local gay politics” (445). On April 9, Silverman decides to propose that the bathhouses stay open but prevent “sex between individuals,” which causes further despair to those who want them shut.

In a radio interview, Dr. Donald Abrams, the AIDS Clinic assistant director, accidentally mentions the agent behind AIDS. He regrets revealing the discovery of another, but the breakthrough cannot be hidden, as even Gallo releases his reports to a science journal, causing the scientists at the Pasteur Institute to be upset. At the same time, the CDC begs Dr. Brandt to delay the official announcement until they can get the French researchers on the same page. Francis tries to explain that “HTLV-III and LAV were the same virus, that this was not an American discovery” (448). 

In Washington DC, at the US Department of Health and Human Services, Gallo arrives at the offices of Margaret Heckler to assist in the announcement of the discovery of HTLV-III. Previously, The New York Times carried a story in which the CDC gave credit to the Pasteur Institute for isolating the AIDS Virus, which surprises Gallo. Heckler, however, claims “the discovery presents another miracle to the long honor roll of American Medicine and Science” (451) without taking into consideration the amount of work put in by the French scientists. Although she does credit Gallo with reproducing the virus in large quantities, which the French could not do, the French did discover the viral agent behind AIDS. Francis notes:

The French were being cheated of the recognition and the US government had taken a sleazy path claiming credit for something that had been done by others a year before. Francis was embarrassed by a government more concerned with election-year politics than with honesty (451).

In San Francisco, Mark Conant organizes a symposium to develop an “AIDS Prevention Media Project” with Supervisor Brit trying to secure funding for it. Although the bathhouse issue continued to stall as Silverman wants the approval of all gay factions, he still isn't happy with the AIDS educational resources available. At this time, one of the staunchest supporters of bathhouses who had criticized Conant for choosing to close the bath appears in his office. Rumored to have had an affair with Rock Hudson, he says, “I have this purple spot” (453).

In cities across the US, others raised issues against the bathhouses as well, with many gay leaders against the closures. In New York, it becomes a question of civil liberties while in Los Angeles, public health officials equally did not want to intervene. In Southern California, the city's major AIDS service was run solely on private contributions, while the whole state’s “[l]egislative efforts to plan a California AIDS program also were stymied by the governor who opposed long-term planning for the epidemic” (455).

Back in Washington DC, after Heckler’s announcement, the top priority becomes developing a blood test and creating an AIDS vaccine and effective treatments, which requires funding. Assistant Secretary for Health Edward Brandt sends off the memo to Heckler detailing the budget; however, it “would be a long process of waiting. And more waiting” (455).

On June 5th, 1984, Rock Hudson learns that the purple spot on his neck is Kaposi's sarcoma. 

Francis supervises the work in antibody testing to figure out the progression of the virus. The antibody testing allows scientists to see the viruses spread through blood contact, with methods including sharing needles and getting a blood transfusion.

Dr. Max Essex, the mentor of Don Francis, tries to figure out how AIDS started. Without access to any African government, he researches the outbreaks of monkeys with AIDS-like symptoms who have similarities in their proteins as the infected human patients. This leads “Essex to believe that AIDS may have been lying dormant in some primate population for thousands of years before being transferred to humans” (459).

The problems between the CDC and the NCI continue when the CDC tries to request more of the virus from the NCI. Gallo is still suspicious of the intentions of the CDC, especially as they gave more credit to the Pasteur Institute by “leaking news about LAV” (460). Gallo doesn’t want the CDC to show comparisons between his discovery and that of the French. The French researchers are disappointed and wait for Gallo to publicly validate their discovery. Because the Reagan Administration supported Gallo and the NCI, they tell the CDC to back off, and before long scientists “become reluctant to become stuck in what had become a quagmire of scientific politicking” (462).

In San Francisco, Cleve Jones gets an outbreak of shingles, and his doctor confirms: “All the young men who I've seen get this are developing AIDS” (463). Cleves becomes miserable and goes to get a drink and remembers the affair in 1982 with Frank, a lawyer from Long Beach, who had also died of AIDS. He then remembers other boyfriends who died due to AIDS-related complications.

In early June, Mayor Feinstein secretly dispatches investigators into the bathhouses to gather evidence that would push the public health director into closing them. However, Silverman continues to stall, which prompts Feinstein to call him out: “Dr. Silverman should take his medical information, make a decision and go with it—not count hands to see what is popular” (464). 

In Washington DC, Brandt denies leaking a copy of his memo to Secretary Heckler requesting $55 million for AIDS-related activities.

The memo comes at an opportune moment, especially since Reagan officials had not begun preparing for the next year's budget. Westmoreland has copies sent to legislators on Capitol Hill and members of Congress, who “relayed their dismay to Secretary Heckler and hoped that the administration would boost its AID request” (466). Westmoreland also sends a copy to a local gay newspaper, but unfortunately, other publications on the East Coast ignore it.

In San Francisco, the Democratic National Convention begins. The fundamentalist Minister Jerry Falwell criticizes the Democrats for siding with the homosexuals: “Fundamentalist ministers across the Nation asserted that the Democrats had become the party of the ‘three A's’— acid, abortion, and AIDS” (468). The atmosphere becomes charged as the gay community and politicians are split over how to handle AIDS.

After Heckler’s press conference, scientists and AIDS leaders are ready for a blood test that would assist in identifying the infected. However, many are concerned with the confidentiality issues, as the antibody testing could be used to show sexual orientation, a concern voiced by Paul. Previously, Paul enrolled in a study of gay men in 1982 in which his blood is drawn. Dr. Michael Lange notifies Paul that he is infected, which “explained why his lymph nodes had been swollen for so long” (471).

Later, Brandt ’s memo is shown to have never found its way out of Secretary Heckler’s office. However, Representative Ed Roybal of Los Angeles decides to submit the request to the US Department of Health and Human Services, which immediately approves $8.3 million in AIDS funding. By the time Heckler responds, she orders Brandt to redirect funds from other health programs within the NIH and CDC.

At Stanford University, Gottlieb hears about the Pasteur Institute's work on an antiviral drug called HPA-23 for those infected. Without FDA approval, Chermann can't send the drugs directly to him in the US. The news of HPA-23 spreads, causing even Rock Hudson to seek the “promising French drug” (475). Later, they discover that while “HPA-23 might halt the replication of a virus, as soon as the patient was off the drug, viral reproduction began anew, ravaging the patient's immune system” (476).

Frances Borchelt never recovers her health; her daughter is convinced that she has AIDS and asks her father to see if the blood transfusions supplied by the Irwin Memorial blood bank were from an infected individual. At this point, “[n]obody debated whether blood transfusions could spread AIDS” (477), and health professionals such as Dr. Joseph Bove, who had opposed blood screening, were now arguing with the FDA to make Hepatitis B core testing available.

At the NCI, Gallo estimates that one of every seven people infected with the virus would develop AIDS and describes it “as efficient a virus as I’ve ever seen” (478). Also, he notes that because of the virus’s potential to infect the brain, treatments that could cross the blood-brain barrier would be extremely difficult. Although antibody testing is available and the search for a cure progresses, it was proving difficult, as the syndrome still “lacked star quality” (480) for people to take it seriously.

In San Francisco, pressure mounts on Silverman to close the bathhouses after a report released by the city shows people still having unsafe sex. Silverman promises privately to the CDC, Mayor Feinstein, and other health professionals that as soon as further investigations were complete, he would close the baths.

In Atlanta, Don Francis is frustrated because the CDC still doesn't have enough resources to manage the epidemic. He decides to meet with Walt Dowdle, the Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases, to express his desire to quit due to these circumstances.

In New York, the plan for combatting AIDS has proved useless, as the meetings of the Interagency Task Force on AIDS were “gripe sessions with members fuming about the lack of any substantive action to solve the festering problems” (464). With these circumstances, Larry wants to be back on the board for the GMHC; however, Paul refuses to let him in, citing, “He’ll join the board over [Paul’s] dead body” (485).

Later, Bill goes to Conant’s offices due to his shortness of breath and a purple spot on his thigh. He and Conant had become close with their work on AIDS; “Conant felt a numbness fall over him when [Bill] walked into the examination room” (485). Although he doesn't confirm anything right away, Conant knows that Bill has Kaposi’s sarcoma.

Bill hangs out with his friend, Dennis Seely, as he knew him before “his life as a gay political celebrity” (487). Bill fears that he has AIDS, and he is upset about it as he's the one that was called “a sexual fascist” (487) and now his prognosis would probably predict that he only has six weeks left to live. Dennis asks him to stop being melodramatic and they go to see Conant together at his office, who confirms, “You've got Kaposi's” (487). Dennis and Bill are overcome with emotion as Conant tries to console him by saying that there is so much that he can be doing with his position and power.

Bill goes home, where his closest friends have gathered, and he tells them the news. They immediately make plans to raise money for him “during his ordeal”; Kico describes the event a “funeral” (488).

At the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Silverman makes an announcement: “Today I have ordered the closure of fourteen commercial establishments that promote and profit from the spread of AIDS—a sexually transmitted fatal disease” (489). Even though there are angry protests, after the closure, it appeared that “the expected gay outcry that had so paralyzed the health department and intimidated politicians never happened” (490). Following San Francisco’s lead, officials in other cities meet to decide on bathhouses, including New York and Los Angeles.

In Washington DC, Representative Henry Waxman points out the government’s failures, in particular, the Department of Health and Human Services budget chief: “Every day there are deaths that are a monument to your irresponsibility” (493). Finally, Congress appropriates the necessary funds, which result in being 60% more than the Reagan Administration’s original budget. However, days after, Congress and the administration fight again over the extra $8.35 million needed to develop the antibody test as the administration decides to use $475,000 of those funds and keep the rest in the treasury. 

On November 6, Ronald Reagan is reelected by “the biggest electoral vote landslide in nearly fifty years” (495). During the month of his reelection, the number of AIDS cases surpasses 7,000; Reagan never raises the issue in his election campaign.

As the rivalry between the Pasteur Institute and the French continue, Michael Gottlieb from UCLA, who first reports the epidemic, visits the French research team. As Gallo and the NCI receive recognition, the French are desperate for some attribution to their discovery. Despite their small budgets and the lack of attention, they progress with the testing of HPA-23 while in the US, FDA restrictions disallow everyone access to the available drugs. Gottlieb discovers that despite the French team’s advancements, they are not experienced in writing papers and presenting data for American Scientific journals, which renders them weak in front of those like Gallo, who market themselves well.

Bill decides to go to Paris. Conant observes that after hearing his diagnosis, Bill surrenders to mysticism and “chasing the rainbow of some untested drug and an exotic faraway land” (497).

In San Francisco, the Superior Court Judge Roy Wonder announces that “bathhouses could reopen but only if they hired monitors who would survey the premises every ten minutes and expel any men engaging in unsafe sexual practices” (498). Slowly, bathhouses and sex clubs are shut down; then, the San Francisco Department of Public Health begins an educational program to combat AIDS. Bill's friends realize that the campaign is similar to the one that he had formulated sixteen months earlier.

On Christmas, Francis Borchelt is in the hospital with the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Cathy, her daughter, realizes: “Mom has AIDS” (502). Meanwhile, the Reagan Administration procrastinates over releasing the $8.4 million appropriated by Congress to speed the antibody testing. At the same time, Mervyn Silverman calls a press conference to announce his resignation.