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Philadelphia (1993) - Full Reaction (Patreon)

Published:
2023-08-20 00:55:21
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2026-06
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This was a hard but important watch for sure. Two huge talents bringing intense but also subtle performances. I didn't know the stigma and outlook were that bad then :(

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[Full Reaction] Philadelphia (1993)

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Danny (Icarus)

One of my all time favorite Tom Hanks/Denzel Washington portrayals.

Brian McGovern

I actually saw a video on you tube where a guy is driving around showing the “ghetto” life of Philadelphia, and man is it depressing. Far cry from the “ city of brotherly love” that is a song from this movie. It is almost like a scene from Walking Dead. People in sitting, standing, lying in the streets, comatose from the drugs they have taken. Truly horrific how some people are “living” their lives.

Andrew Ramos
>>115612184

These days the new Tranq Dope that is circulating, and originated in Philly, is literally flesh eating. My sister lives in Philly and in some parts it's only gotten worse. And yet, Bruce Springsteen's music video Streets of Philadelphia shows there's still beauty to be found in all of Philly

Brian McGovern
>>115612184

I think every city has a side to them that we choose, prefer not to see. It is very confronting when it is placed right in front of you.

Tara

Cassie, I was just on your live and asked if would PLEASE add The Rainmaker to Witness Week. It came in 4th on the poll. You and Carly will love it. If anyone else will join the cause please let Cassie know 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Just Plain Bob

I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s and remember very well when AIDS first made headlines in the early 1980s. Initially, there was, as might be expected, a great deal of ignorance regarding modes of transmission. The recent pandemic is another perfect example of early days ignorance regarding a new disease. But, my experience with acquaintances, friends and family was that, by the time this movie was made, we all knew better than to believe it could be spread through casual contact or by simply breathing the same air. My experience was that the fears expressed in this film were much more common a decade earlier, when so little was known about the disease.

JL_83

Funny bit of trivia: Daniel Day-Lewis turned down Tom Hanks’ role in this movie so he could do In The Name of the Father; Day-Lewis was Oscar-nominated but lost to Tom Hanks for the role that he turned down, how about that? On another note, Denzel was very good in this movie as well even if he didn’t get a nomination, Hanks even said working with Denzel was like going back to acting school

James MacDonald

I can't for the life of me get this to sync up. I've tried two different copies of the movie. Cassie's version is slower. It goes out of synch immediately, like it's running at a lower framerate.

Mike Lemon
>>115615636

Her source might be a PAL edition. Try setting your playback speed to 96%.

Mike LL
>>115615636

Yep my copy is not syncing either. I watched the first 45 minutes and finally figured out to pause my copy for a second every 15 or 20 seconds. Will try to finish watching tomorrow.

Tara

Tom Hanks won back to back Best Actor Oscar Awards for this in 1993 and then in 1994 for Forrest Gump. The only other actor to achieve this was Spencer Tracy in the 1930’s.

Patrick Gibbs

My best friend died of AIDS which he contracted through a blood transfusion back in 1984. They kicked him out of elementary school for a short time and then after the Ryan White story they let him back in. Thank you for watching this. Thank you for the respect! All our love, The Gibbs Family.

MattN
>>115612715

not only is this my favorite courtroom drama but in my top ten fav movies of all time

Zane From Canada

Watching Philadelphia along with you Cassie was another reminder for me of how much I've grown. Growing up in the 90's I was ignorant towards homosexuality (among other things) for no other reason(s) than I didn't fully understand it and I heard people say it was funny, different, wrong and I just blindly went with it. Fortunately I smartend up after a lot of learning, education, hearing peoples stories, hard realities, and several metaphorical kicks in the butt. I changed my way of being.

Rick Williams

Hard movie to watch. Takes me back to the 80's and 90's when Aids was a great fear. People were afraid. Hard times. Great Reaction, Cassie. Thank you.

G

Excellent film.

Brian Harris

Tom Hanks in this movie gives MAYBE the single greatest lead performance of my lifetime. I saw it in theaters when I was 14, and it absolutely blew my mind. Here’s this guy who was for sure a genuine movie star, but he was a comedy guy. The most serious he’d ever gotten was Big, but that was a comedy with poignancy, not a tragedy like this. I didn’t expect this from him. I don’t think anyone did. Changed the way I saw acting - it led me to the firm belief that a good actor can do anything. That opera scene … the theater was rapt. There were a few stifled sobs after, but everyone was so engaged. I’ve seen very few moments quite like that. I work in the theatre. I have many friends, older men, who lived through the AIDS epidemic and watched their entire community vanish. And because of the necessary insularity of the gay community (it was not safe for many of these men to step outside of it at the time), there were people who lost every friend they had. Imagine all your friends, your chosen family, dying in the space of a year or two. I have a buddy who went to 43 funerals in February of 1985. It’s just unthinkable. And no one was helping these people. They were dying in alleyways and gutters because hospitals wouldn’t take them. It’s absolutely shameful the way our society treated AIDS victims for over a decade. And it’s important that that dishonor, that stain on our hearts be remembered, and that we honor those dead, so that it never, ever happens again. Thank you for watching this. It’s such an important movie.

Michael Enos

...and I am a complete mess after this full reaction with you. I haven't seen this since it was released. I love music and Neil Young's Philadelphia that played over the funeral scene and the home movies sequence took this to and whole other level with me. I need a kleenex. Another hard watch but great reaction. Much ❤️ .

Dioskur
>>115615636

James if you click the youtube icon below the video, you can use the settings of youtube to adjust the speed. I often have this problem here and setting a custom speed of 105% comes close to a good sync. You can adjust it by a stop-start for a second every now and then. I guess for you, as your problem is reverse to mine, 95% would be best. It only allows 5% steps as far as I can tell

Dioskur

This is a great movie. Acting is great, the historic and ethical lesson to be learned is great, music is very fitting. I substract some points for having the protagonist and his family being perfect. If they allowed him to have flaws, he would be closer to the millions of people who were suffering without the support of 50 loving family members and millions in the bank and an educational background of international level.

Larry Darrell

This Film certainly taught me some things that I didn't know when I first saw it as a kid in the 90s, and I'm grateful for that. It may sound strange, but I've actually learned a lot about History and Life from the Movies. It's a Wondrous Medium. --------------------------- Now for Cast Comments and Recommendations... Roger Corman, who played the first witness, Roger Laird. Cassie has seen him as an actor playing a Congressman in Apollo 13, as the FBI Director in The Silence of the Lambs, and as a Senator in the hearings in The Godfather: Part II. Roger Corman is not an actor. He is probably the Greatest Producer who ever lived. The Greatest Producer of "B" Pictures that is, but still. Corman who is still living and working today at the age of 97, has some 500 + Producing credits and 56 Directing credits, starting in the 50s. He has even done some writing as well. Some of today's Greatest Filmmakers and Actors were given jobs by Corman, to whom they give credit to for starting their careers. To name a few... would not even come close to giving you an idea of the Caliber of Talent that learned their craft at the "Roger Corman Film School," which is what James Cameron has been quoted calling it. Jonathan Demme, who is the Director of The Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia, as well as Ron Howard and Francis Ford Coppola, who directed the other two films mentioned earlier respectively, were all "Students" of Roger Corman, and that list goes on, and on. There is a great documentary on him, Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel (2011). Anyone notice the Librarian, played by Tracey Walter, an amazing Character Actor. We just saw him, One Reaction Earlier, in Erin Brockovich, playing someone who was "not a very good employee." Cassie has also seen him in Batman 1989, The Silence of the Lambs and Independence Day. Perhaps one day Cassie will see him in a memorable role as Cookie in City Slickers (1991). The casting of Mary Steenburgen as the Defense Attorney was genius in my opinion. You already knew that you were not going to like anyone on the Defense side and you knew they were going to be lying from the start, but once you see Mary Steenburgen, she sucks you into believing they have a case. She is just so sweet, you can't not like her. I Recommend two of her first films, Goin' South (1978) with Jack Nicholson and Time After Time (1979) with Malcom McDowell. Andrew Beckett's Mother was played by Legendary Hollywood Actress, Joanne Woodward. She acted in Films and TV since the early 50s and was nominated for 4 Oscars, Winning one in 1958 for Best Actress in a Lead Role, for The Three Faces of Eve (1957). She might be most remembered today for being the Wife of Paul Newman. They married in 1958 and remained married until Newman's death in 2008. Probably one of the longest Hollywood Marriages of All Time. HBO released a Six-Part Documentary series about their Marriage last year. Besides her Oscar winning role, I Recommend Paris Blues (1961), with Woodward, her husband Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier. Interesting note, Philadelphia co-starred Joanne Woodward and Antonio Banderas in 1993. One year later, you could watch Nobody's Fool (1994), starring Paul Newman and Bandera's future wife, Melanie Griffith. I Recommend this film, especially around Thanksgiving. Lastly, when Miguel was having trouble getting Andrew's I.V. started, Andrew called Miguel, "Nurse Ratched." There was no visible or verbal recognition from Cassie at this Remark. So I will say, if Cassie does not know who Nurse Ratched is... then I Highly Recommend that she watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), again. She lists this film as a film that she has seen before, but even she says she doesn't remember it. This is a Must Watch Film, and a Must Remember Film. So Cassie, please... Please, if you cannot remember the ending of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, or you do not know who Nurse Ratched is... then Please, Please consider watching it again sometime. Thank You for your Time.

Joe D. MacGuffinstuff

Tom Hanks really got to me in this, his performance in that scene with the opera music, I felt it like I've never felt opera before, I didn't get it, now I understand why it's such a revered storytelling medium. I remember Ryan White, that boy who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion, I was very young but I remember feeling sorry for him because people were so terrified of AIDS, parents refused to let him go to school with their kids, but I remember people literally believed you could get it from water fountains, we just didn't know. That's the funny thing about being a kid in the 80s, the movies and shows and music were great, lots to be nostalgic about, but I also remember being constantly reminded of and scared of World War 3, AIDS, crack, drive by shootings, etc. This movie I think opened a lot of peoples' minds to being more tolerant and reminds me how movies and other creative media can relate human experience and actually change things, change our hearts, which I think is a beautiful thing.

Gábor Árki
>>115615636

Cassie seems to be watching the "NTSC" (non-modified 24p) version with a runtime of 2:05, end credits rolling at 1:59. The PAL version would be 4% faster with credits rolling at 1:54 and the total length being 1:59. So, it is maybe you watching a 25p PAL speed up version? That would mean ~2.5 seconds difference every minute you have to pause your copy for to keep in sync, which seems to be what Mike LL experienced. Edit: I'm 10 minutes in and so far, perfect sync with my Blu-ray copy.

Shawn Kildal
>>115612715

Unfortunately, The Pelican Brief came in 4th place. Cassie talked about adding the 4th place movie to watch sometime soon during her live stream that took place yesterday. My dream courtroom movie week (that Cassie hasn't seen yet) is The Rainmaker, Kramer vs. Kramer, and The Verdict. They'll get watched sometime in the not-too-distant future hopefully.

Shawn Kildal
>>115624173

During the live stream that happened yesterday Cassie did an Oscar movie drawing and the year 1975 was pulled. She left off the poll One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (along with Jaws) since they were movies she has already seen before. The winner of the poll was Dog Day Afternoon. Perhaps she remembers the movie, but not the names of the characters even though admittedly Nurse Ratched is a popular character name in Pop Culture.

Shawn Kildal

If I remember correctly, Hanks had similar weight loss stint with the movie Cast Away along with growing a massive beard. That scene when Tom's character left Denzel's office after being initially turned away and him standing outside and seeing the despair look on his face always reminds me of Jimmy Stewarts look of despair in It's A Wonderful Life when he was sitting at the bar praying.

Damon
>>115624173

Great read and fascinating information, Larry. Thank you for that. With all the films that Cassie has fit in during these last two years, it doesn't surprise me that names or small tidbits of information have been forgotten.

Mike LL
>>115615636

Thanks Gabor and Dioskur! I will look into your recommendations.

Shehab Dawoud

Hanks obviously got the main attention, winning his first Oscar and whatnot. But Denzel is fantastic in this. How he didn't even get nominated is beyond me. Obviously, his transformation is what sticks with you, but I love his performance early on. He's so good at playing a jerk/unlikeable person LOL. Philadelphia, He Got Game, Training Day, Flight, Fences. He can be a great A**hole. Can't wait for Primal Fear!

Mike LL
>>115618492

Yes, Back to back Oscars: Best Actor: Tom Hanks 1993 and 1994. Best Actor: Spencer Tracy 1937 and 1938 Best Actress: Louise Rainer 1936 and 1937 Best Actress: Katherine Hepburn 1967 and 1968 (1968 tied with Babs) Best Supporting Actor: Jason Robards, who in Philadelphia was the despicable Senior Partner Charles Wheeler, won in 1976 and 1977

Priscila

To this day I cant listen to the Bruce Springsteen song without bursting into tears.

Tara
>>115627170

Didn’t someone comment for Vertigo that Tom Hanks is our generation’s Jimmy Stewart. Both actors who can do anything.

Mike LL

I agree with Cassie that Denzel Washington portrayed a tremendous change in his character in the most subtle and small way. Two great performances in a very touching movie.

Mike LL
>>115624173

Yes I noticed right away but couldn't have been aware of beforehand that we were getting two back to back movies with Tracey Walter as a supporting actor!

Shehab Dawoud
>>115627170

I’d say that Jimmy Stewart is a much better actor than Hanks. I love Tom but he can’t go to dark places the way Jimmy can. But yeah, they got the reputation as their generations “everyday guy”.

Doc Larry

I’m a healthcare provider and in the 80s was involved in research and education about the HIV virus. Think of the early days of the Covid pandemic. There was a lot of panic missed information. Some of the names will be familiar to you Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Joseph Gallo and Dr Luc Montagnier. Back then it was called HTLV3 This was a groundbreaking film. If you’d like to see another movie about this topic see the movie that was based on the book And the band played on. Things could’ve been done to prevent the virus from spreading the politics got in the way what a shame. People were afraid to offend certain people. Caring for the sick should never be political it should be compassion even if you have to step on some toes.

Larry Darrell
>>115624173

I would’ve recommended Repo Man (1984), but that might be a bit too Quirky for the Channel right now. Maybe one day. :-)

Ceruleo

Tom Hanks's run of movies from 1992 to 2002 is one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, runs an actor has ever had. It's like a DiMaggio streak of hits. A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Toy Story, That Thing You Do, Saving Private Ryan, You've Got Mail, Toy Story 2, The Green Mile, Cast Away, Road to Perdition, and Catch Me if You Can.

Brian Lowery

I’m glad I’m the age I am, because it lends perspective. As bad as some people believe the current state of our nation is, I’ve seen some incredible progress in my time on earth. I’ve seen awareness brought to bear when it comes to people with disabilities. Autism awareness. The growing notion that love is love, period. Another thing I’ve witnessed is that increasingly shrinking stigma of HIV/AIDS. Back in the 80’s, the biggest killer of young men and women was shame. Rather than getting the treatment and education they needed, these people were shamed into hiding their illness. That shame allowed it to proliferate in silence. Why seek treatment if it’s going to cost me my friends, my family, my career, etc.? This film, I’m happy to say, is a zeitgeist. It applies to that particular period in time. Younger people watch it, and are shocked at how backwards we once were. Perspective.

Brian Lowery
>>115624173

Great Paul Newman quote about his fidelity to Joanne. “I don't like to discuss my marriage, but I will tell you something which may sound corny but which happens to be true. I have steak at home. Why should I go out for hamburger?”

Biggman83

I’m so glad you watched this movie. It took me a number of years to sit down and watch it also. I was 10 when it came out, but i remember the publicity of it and Tom winning the Oscar. The movie stayed in my conscious until I watched it in my early 20s. It made such an impression on me, and one that’s stuck. If I catch it when I channel flick I’ll always watch it till then end. An important movie for sure!

David Conroy

Maybe it's a mercy that young people today don't know the degree of stigma homosexuals faced in the past. I think this was the first mainstream film with a positive portrayal of a gay lead character. If you are curious how Hollywood handled homosexuality when the "production code" (the industry's self-censorship regime) forbade any direct mention of the subject, HBO did a great documentary in 1995 called "The Celluloid Closet".

KauaiKeith

Great reaction Cassie on a very tough subject. Having lived through the 80's and having both a sister and brother-in-law who are gay, this movie touches home. Also, my brother-in-law contracted AIDS before there was any treatment like there is today. I can tell you the fear and ignorance that is portrayed in this movie was very real and everywhere in the 80's and early 90's. Thank goodness drug treatments were discovered and able to save millions of lives including my brother-in-law who is still alive 35 years after contracting AIDS. Speaking of which, I recommend two movies: "And the Band Played On" and "Dallas Buyers Club." Both deal with the early years of AIDS and the political and social struggles that people with AIDS and homosexuals faced because of it.

Terry Yelmene

Cassie doesn't understand what the '80's plague' was like and how the Reagan Administration's crusade against AIDS effected prejudice against everyone who had it. But what Cassie showed us that she KNEW... perhaps better than all of us, was that Bob needed to 'see' Andy. And during the aria, when Bob finally did, she knew it would work. Philadelphia is one of the most 'moving' movies ever made. And as always... Cassie 'felt' it.

Tinkerbell

I still think that is one one of Tom Hanks’ best (if not his best) performances. So powerful. I grew up during the AIDS crisis so I remember the stigma many people attached to the disease. There are several great films out there that deal with the topic: And The Band Played On-great true story film about the start of the epidemic in the US and how the medical community worked to figure the virus out and how they tried to get the public to respond to the disease. Angels in America-HBO miniseries based on Tony Kushner’s play Dallas Buyers Club-true story with Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto The Normal Heart- based on a true story, directed by Ryan Murphy starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Julia Roberts, Jim Parsons, Alfred Molina I am probably forgetting some good ones….I would start with And The Band Played On. It does a decent job of giving a broad look at the epidemic in this country during the 80s. We watched it twice in school. It’s an interesting and pretty powerful film.

tiny baby kitty man

Crazy fact: The gal who plays Tom Hanks' sister in this played the creepy half-sister of the villain in the last episode of True Detective season 1! At one point in this, the camera caught her at a certain angle I was like, "Wait... that reminds me of... is that... no way!" Looked it up on IMDB, and sure enough I was right. Probably the craziest catch I've ever had rewatching an old movie.

Larry Darrell
>>115682155

Ann Dowd. She was also in, It Could Happen to You. It’s cool when you start to notice the smaller character actors. They’re usually in a ton of stuff, but they are the actors you never know the name of.

Zachary K. (Verified Swiftie)

Cassie, Awesome reaction I cried right along with you. I was growing up around this time 80-90's. There was a terrible stigma around HIV- Aids. I think this film is one of those movies that stays with you long after you watch it. I cried alot the first time I watched it. One of my sisters said it best when she said. "I don't understand how there is a disease that kills lovers." It reminded me of Princess Diana hugging AIDS patients. When no one else would touch them. What a saint she was.

Jim Williams
>>115717334

"I don't understand how there is a disease that kills lovers"... syphilis, gonorrhea, and half a dozen other STDs killed "lovers" until we developed penicillin. Henry VIII and Al Capone both died of syphilis, for example. There was not such a terrible stigma, and both the media and gov't, to their shame, tried to obscure the connection between sharing needles, sodomy and the spread of HIV. It was rampant in the alphabet community because back then the alphabet community was notoriously promiscuous and hedonistic. The AIDS epidemic, in fact, was probably beneficial in that the alphabet community cleaned up its act after that. The "lifestyle" became more about relationships and less about sex. And before you look down your nose at some of the crazy theories (e.g. you can get AIDS from dinnerware) thrown out back then, look at all the crazy notions about covid not merely thrown out, but promoted and enforced by government and media; mask mandates, social distancing, lockdowns, vaccines being more effective than natural immunity, etc etc; none of which turned out to be correct.

Jim Williams

No, I haven't watched this movie, I have no interest in this movie; it's the only Tom Hanks film I won't watch. I lived through the AIDS epidemic, I didn't, and still don't, need to expose myself to left-wing propaganda about it.

Carol_White
>>115782528

The left-wing propaganda in question being the horrible ideal of civic equality. I mean, that's about as lefty as this movie gets, in case you're interested, since you haven't seen it. Some AIDS activists at the time despised this movie for being so apolitical. If it makes you feel better, AIDS killed a lot of liberals.

Jim Williams
>>115782528

the idea that homosexuality was equivalent to heterosexuality. The idea that alphabet people were victims of anything more than their own mental illness.

Juley
>>115651533

“And The Band Played On” is a great movie for education on how AIDS unfolded at the time. But it’s horribly frustrating to watch and imagine how things might have been different. Getting the movie made is a great lesson in the history of HIV/AIDS, too. For an actor to play “gay” or to play someone with AIDS was career suicide at the time. That’s how toxic the fear was in society. They were having trouble casting the movie. In came Richard Gere! He not only agreed to be in the film, he agreed to play a gay man with AIDS. Everyone in Hollywood started jumping on the bandwagon. They had to include tons of bit parts with only a few lines to get everybody in the movie. Most of the names might not be familiar to today’s audiences, but the cast list read like a complete who’s who of Hollywood actors at that time. It’s a film everyone should see for so many reasons.

Zachary K. (Verified Swiftie)
>>115717334

Henry VIII died of a traumatic brain injury not of syphilis. Jack The Ripper had syphilis though. You broke rule #3 turning a movie political. I don't know how having compassion for a fellow human being, is liberal propaganda? AIDS has killed 33 million people. There is nothing beneficial about it. COVID would have been the next Spanish Flu with 100 million dead if it hadn't been for medical science Hopefully the moderators pick up on your thread. Anyway I have reported it.

djKENTO
>>115782528

real interesting way to brag about not having empathy for human beings.

djKENTO

When we get homophobic trolls in the comments can they please PLEASE be banned. We don’t need that nonsense in this community.

Jim Williams
>>117278313

If you read what I said, it's anti-left-wing, not anti-homosexual. As I said, I lived through the epidemic. If you don't like the reality of the era, that's your issue, not mine.

Jim Williams
>>115717334

The movie itself is political. Henry VIII died of syphilis; he contracted it in his early days and it's why he couldn't produce a healthy child. It's not liberal propaganda; it's leftist propaganda. When you create a sympathetic character who supports your ideology, and then create straw men as antagonists and villains for the audience to hate... that's propaganda.

Jim Williams
>>115674098

That's a lie. The Reagan administration did NOT effect prejudice against those who had it; it was not like the Biden administration demonizing "anti-vaxxers". There's some good parallels between Covid and the AIDS epidemic; we didn't know then exactly how it could be communicated. It wasn't the Reagan administration who was telling people you could get it from silverware touched by your waiter, for example. The media at the time was suppressing the reality of AIDS. If you did not engage in dangerous sexual practices, if you did not share needles, your chance of catching AIDS was minute... something still true today. The media was more concerned about perceived persecution which didn't exist until they began harping on it, than on saving lives. Just as they were more concerned with the perceived persecution of Moslems after 9/11 than they were concerned with stopping future attacks. This is why I refuse to watch this movie; it promotes the attitude and lies you cling to today.

Zachary K. (Verified Swiftie)
>>115717334

Henry VIII did have syphilis it has been absolutely dismissed by by many historians. He produced three children Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. All healthy. I am not going to get into a political debate based on a movie. I won't. Cassie deserves better. I won't give into bigotry and hate.

djKENTO
>>117278313

Shhhh. You said it was mental illness. You’re a bigot. End of story. Be quiet now please.

Zachary K.
>>117278313

I second that motion. I like this community. It's full of people who support Cassie and love movies. It's also a democracy. Cassie should feel loved not have to confront bigotry and hate.

Tom Evans
>>115782528

Jim you are garbage. Just stay away from people for the rest of your miserable life, please.

Ryan Towell

I know I'm late to this, but back when this movie was taking place AIDS/HIV was a very big deal and it took years to figure out how it spreads. I remember when people were first starting to get diagnosed with it, they were putting them in quarantines in hospitals away from everyone and there was nothing to be done. During this time period of the film, it was believed that you could get it from touching due to the idea of sweat secretions spreading it (which is why Denzel didn't like shaking his hand), Same with being to close when someone with aids talked when you talk sometimes bits of tiny mists of saliva becomes airborne and they thought they could get it that way too. It was a very scary time and let's not forget that they thought it was only spread through homosexuality for quite some time. And that type of lifestyle was still looked down upon as well.

Terry Yelmene
>>115674098

Okay 'Jim'... don't watch this great movie... cling 'hard' to your ignorance... we 'see' you, and we 'understand' who you are!

Clay F
>>115674098

Terry, agree, Reagan had a shameful abdication of leadership in the fight against AIDS. Following discovery of the first cases in 1981, it soon became clear a national health crisis was developing. But Reagan's response was "halting and ineffective," according to his biographer Lou Cannon. Those infected initially with this mysterious disease -- all gay men -- found themselves targeted with an unprecedented level of mean-spirited hostility. A significant source of Reagan's support came from the newly identified religious right and the Moral Majority, a political-action group founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell. AIDS became the tool, and gay men the target, for the politics of fear, hate and discrimination. Falwell said "AIDS is the wrath of God upon homosexuals." Reagan's communications director Pat Buchanan argued that AIDS is "nature's revenge on gay men." With each passing month, death and suffering increased at a frightening rate. Scientists, researchers and health care professionals at every level expressed the need for funding. The response of the Reagan administration was indifference. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, stated: "It is surprising that the president could remain silent ... that he could fail to acknowledge the epidemic's existence. Perhaps his staff felt he had to, since many of his New Right supporters have raised money by campaigning against homosexuals." it wasn't until May 31, 1987 (near the end of his second term) that Reagan gave his first major address on AIDS. Reagan could have chosen to end the homophobic rhetoric that flowed from so many in his administration. Dr. C. Everett Koop, Reagan's surgeon general, has said that because of "intradepartmental politics" he was cut out of all AIDS discussions for the first five years of the Reagan administration. The reason, he explained, was "because transmission of AIDS was understood to be primarily in the homosexual population and in those who abused intravenous drugs." The president's advisers, Koop said, "took the stand, 'They are only getting what they justly deserve.' "