This is the story of the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic as it has never been told before: through the voices and notes of the people who took phone calls made to an LGBTQ+ helpline. From 1983 to 1991, Switchboard volunteers supported people living with HIV, their loved ones, and people scared of it. In the first of three special episodes that start Season Two of The Log Books, Tash and Adam hear from survivors, a nurse and a doctor, and the people who were among the first to tackle what became a crisis.
Content warning: Illness, death, and ill-treatment and discrimination of people living with HIV and AIDS.
The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.
For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:
From organisations:
All about HIV from the Terrence Higgins Trust
All about PrEP from Prepster
National Aids Trust, the UK’s HIV rights charity
Positively UK, advocates for and supporters of people living with HIV
Positive East, health and wellbeing for people living with HIV
NAM AIDS Map, which grew out of Switchboard!
Tonic Living, which seeks to build LGBT+ affirming retirement communities
TV:
BBC Horizon Killer in the Village from 1983
Podcasts:
From Probably True with Scott Flashheart:
Books:
Policing Desire by Simon Watney
The End of Innocence by Simon Garfield
AIDS: Don’t Die of Prejudice by Norman Fowler
Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes
Artwork by Natalie Doto
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