AIDS: THE LOST VOICES
California’s Medical Facility in Vacaville was long known for poor care of inmates with HIV/AIDS. In 1992 Brian Patrick Carmichael — then HIV‑negative — organized Pastoral Care Services after seeing friends die undignified deaths. With inmates including Charles Perry, Laos Schuman and Peter Yvanovich, and over 100 others, he led vigils, medication protests and hunger strikes, alerting press and officials. Their activism exposed systemic neglect and pushed for humane treatment of incarcerated people with HIV/AIDS.
AIDS: THE LOST VOICES
Todd Shuttleworth was diagnosed with AIDS in June 1984, and was fired from his job three months later when his employer found out. Todd became one of the first individuals in the United States to take legal action against his employer for wrongful dismissal, marking the beginning of a protracted legal battle that paralleled his personal struggle with the illness.
AIDS: THE LOST VOICES
In 1982, San Francisco became a pivotal backdrop for a landmark moment in the fight against AIDS, as four men publicly revealed their diagnosis, courageously confronting the stigma and fear surrounding the disease. Their heartfelt testimonies illuminated the human experience behind the statistics, transforming ignorance into compassion.