AIDS: THE LOST VOICES
Gaétan Dugas was an effervescent gay French Canadian flight attendant renowned among his colleagues for his bold declarations that he would one day become a 'star.' At the age of 32, his life was tragically cut short due to AIDS-related complications. Despite his light-hearted claims, Gaétan became posthumously infamous when, in 1987, he was exposed by author and journlaist Randy Shilts as being the individual responsible for introducing AIDS to North America, earning him the label of "patient zero."
This unwarranted infamy inflicted profound pain on his family and friends, as he was denounced as a "monster" by the very media that sensationalised the story. It was not until nearly thirty years later, following significant advancements in scientific research, that studies of Gaétan's blood samples showed unequivocally that his HIV footprint was not that old, meaning other HIV strains had been in North American cities long before Gaétan had even visited them. In 2019, the film Killing Patient Zero spoke to those who knew Gaétan best, shifting the narrative from Zero to hero. Prior to that, Zero Patience, a musical film released in 1993, took a satirical approach to Shilt’s claims, challenging the misconceptions surrounding Gaétan’s role in the epidemic.
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Taking part in the ‘Cluster Study’, Gaétan Dugas was the 57th individual to be identified in the investigation into the transmission of the AIDS virus, which was at that time referred to as GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency). Researchers meticulously mapped Gaétan’s connections, seeking to unravel the complex network through which the virus spread. In the process of documenting his case, Gaétan was logged with the letter ‘O’, a notation that was later misinterpreted as a zero. This typographical error would immortalise him in medical lore as ‘Patient Zero’, a term that not only marked his significance in the study but also led to widespread misconceptions about the origins and spread of the disease.
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON - POLITICS, PEOPLE AND THE AIDS EPEDEMIC by Randy Shilts
In 1981, the year when AIDS came to international attention, Randy Shilts was employed by the San Francisco Chronicle as the first openly gay journalist dealing with gay issues. He quickly devoted himself to reporting on the developing epidemic, trying to understand the cultural, medical and political impact of the disease on the gay community and United States society as a whole.
Extensively researched, weaving together personal stories with political and social reporting, And the Band Played On is a masterpiece of investigative reporting that led to Randy Shilts being described as "the pre-eminent chronicler of gay life" by The New York Times. Shilts exposed why AIDS was allowed to spread - while the medical and political authorities ignored (and even denied) the threat. It was awarded the Stonewall Book Award, became an international bestseller translated into 7 languages, and was made into a major movie in 1993 starring Richard Gere and Sir Ian McKellen.
PATIENT ZERO AND THE MAKING OF THE AIDS EPEDEMIC by Richard McKay
BOOK: Now an award-winning documentary feature film
McKay presents a carefully documented and sensitively written account of the life of Gaétan Dugas, a gay man whose skin cancer diagnosis in 1980 took on very different meanings as the HIV/AIDS epidemic developed—and who received widespread posthumous infamy when he was incorrectly identified as patient zero of the North American outbreak.
McKay shows how investigators from the US Centers for Disease Control inadvertently created the term amid their early research into the emerging health crisis; how an ambitious journalist dramatically amplified the idea in his determination to reframe national debates about AIDS; and how many individuals grappled with the notion of patient zero—adopting, challenging and redirecting its powerful meanings—as they tried to make sense of and respond to the first fifteen years of an unfolding epidemic. With important insights for our interconnected age, Patient Zero untangles the complex process by which individuals and groups create meaning and allocate blame when faced with new disease threats. What McKay gives us here is myth-smashing revisionist history at its best.
2019 Film: KILLING PATIENT ZERO
Trailer
WATCH: Killing Patient Zero
On 12th March 1983, AIDS Vancouver hosted a pivotal conference as the AIDS crisis began to emerge as a significant concern within the gay community.
Amongst the packed hall of attendees was Gaétan Dugas, whose presence underscored the urgency of the situation. Taking the microphone, he posed a series of probing questions that reflected his deep concern and desire for clarity amidst uncertainty.
However, one member of the panel of specialists remarked that Dugas's inquiries appeared pushy, noting that he was asking questions for which there were no definitive answers. This moment highlighted the confusion and desperation surrounding the epidemic, as well as the need for open dialogue in the face of a growing public health crisis.
Laurie Lynd, the writer and director of Killing Patient Zero, spoke on Canada’s Breakfast Show ‘Your Morning’ about the film's release and its pivotal role in reshaping the narrative surrounding Gaétan Dugas. For nearly three decades, Dugas was erroneously identified as the 'patient zero' in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, a misconception that had lasting implications on public perception and policy. In the interview, Lynd emphasised how the film shed’s light on the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding Dugas, Killing Patient Zero serves not only as a tribute to his legacy but also as a call for compassion and accuracy in recounting history.
Gaétan Dugas was born on 12th February 1952 in L'Ancienne-Lorette, then a suburb of Quebec City, Canada. Adopted by the caring couple Arthur and Laurette, he grew up in a nurturing environment alongside several siblings. Within this loving household, even though the family was steeped in Catholic values, Gaétan's sexuality was never a source of conflict; it simply formed part of his identity. After completing his education, he initially trained as a hairdresser but later discovered a sense of thrill and liberation as a flight attendant with AIR Canada, a role that mirrored his adventurous spirit and connection to the world beyond his roots.
At the age of 32, Gaétan sadly passed away on the 30th March 1984 surrounded by his family.
Zero Patience is a thought-provoking 1993 Canadian musical film that challenges the narrative surrounding Gaëtan Dugas, infamously dubbed Patient Zero, who was wrongfully associated with the spread of HIV/AIDS in North America. Written and directed by John Greyson, the film cleverly intertwines historical reflection with a fantastical romance between the time-displaced explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton and the ghost of "Zero," a character that is symbolically linked to Dugas yet remains unnamed. Through a blend of music and storytelling, Zero Patience not only aims to debunk the stigmas associated with Dugas's legacy but also highlights the broader implications of scapegoating during the AIDS epidemic, wrestling with themes of love, loss, and the complexities of historical narratives.
The Independent - 16 March 1994
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‘Control’ - Zero Patience
Composer: Glenn Schellenberg
Lyrics: John Greyson
Vocals: Dianne Heatherington with Von Flores, Scott Hurst, Richardo Keens-Douglas and Duncan McIntosh
WATCH: Zero Patience
Killing Patient Zero
Written & Directed by Laurie Lynd
Fadoo Productions
Zero Patience
Written & Directed by John Greyson
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