AIDS At 20

Many young gay men have never had to worry about HIV. Until now

AIDS will turn 20 this week--at least, our awareness of it will, since it was June 5, 1981, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first published a report about five gay men in Los Angeles with a strange illness. Last week the CDC drew attention to a new study, and many reporters focused on its most shocking, depressing finding--that nearly 15% of young black gay men are contracting HIV every year. One-third of black gays ages 23 to 29 are already infected in the six cities where the study was conducted. If these rates of infection continue, they could...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!