AIDS: The Lost Voices - Gaétan Dugas Patient Hero & Zero Patience
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 Randy Shilt’s claims, challenging the misconceptions surrounding Gaétan’s role in the epidemic.
All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:
XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - Gaétan Dugas Patient Hero & Zero Patience
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Killing Patient Zero
Written & Directed by Laurie Lynd - Fadoo Productions
WATCH FILM HERE (Subscription/Fee's may apply)
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Zero Patience - Musical Movie
Written & Directed by John Greyson
WATCH FILM HERE (Subscription/Fee's may apply)
Archive.org (Free on a laptop/device)
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BOOK:
Patient Zero and the Making of the AIDS Epidemic
by Richard A. McKay
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
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BOOK:
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON - Politics, People and the AIDS Epidemic
by Randy Shilts
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research of HIV/AIDS. No copyright infringement intended.
AIDS: The Lost Voices
In "AIDS: The Lost Voices," hosts William Hampson and Gloria take a profound look back at the often overlooked narratives of individuals affected by the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s.
They navigate through the archives of British newspapers, shedding light on the lived experiences that were overshadowed by sensationalist headlines. Hampson, drawing from his own harrowing experiences as detailed in his book 'The Lost Boys of Soho', highlights the personal toll of the pandemic, revealing how stigma and fear shaped the lives of countless individuals within the gay community.
Together, they aim to honour the voices that were lost amidst the chaos, providing a platform for understanding the human stories that contributed to the history of AIDS in Britain.
- No. of episodes: 40
- Latest episode: 2025-06-08
- Arts Society & Culture Books Personal Journals
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