How to Survive a Plague recounts the story of Act-Up an advocacy group designed to propagate the voices of the numerous individuals suffering from AIDS. Act-Up was created in order to bring awareness of the rising deaths due to AIDS and the lack of governmental help and intervention towards find a solution to save numerous human lives. As the AIDS epidemic plagued the 1980s, much of the LGBT community was left to fend for themselves, often not even getting the chance to get a bed at a hospital. By inciting the Act-Up movement, the LGBT community was able to rally around the need to find a cure in order to prevent the hundreds of lives lost every day.
The utilization and occupation of “sacred space” was an important aspect towards the overall success of the movement. The movement used various “sacred spaces” in order to amplify and distribute their message. For example, hundreds of members marched to the White House lawn and poured the ashes of their dead loved ones, on the lawn grass. Such actions were monumental steps towards garnering attention for their cause. The movement also led many members to occupy a catholic church during mass and chant their messages. Members of Act-Up used the church as a way to blame the organized religions for advocating the murders of many gay individuals. Additionally, many advocates also marched to City Hall, knowing the media presence and used the media to spread their message.
The actions taken by the movement at several sacred spaces, allowed the group to utilize their surroundings to spread their message. They used people’s uncomfortability as a weapon for their cause. By occupying the various “sacred spaces”, they were able to urge organized religions, politicians and hospitals to accept the fact that AIDS was a rapidly rising concern for the LGBT community and that there was a great need for change.
The messages and the actions taken by the Act-Up movement can serve as a basis for many movements such as environmentalism. By grabbing the attention of the people through the use of unorthodox methods, movements such as environmentalism can raise awareness for the issue of racism in the environmentalism movement. By utilizing sacred spaces such as conventions or community centers, individuals can voice the need for minority representation in the environmentalism movement. Rather than becoming extremists, by utilizing a strategic movement, mirroring Act-Up, minorities too can make a change for the betterment of their communities.
– S.Q
