Digital Gallery
Surviving & Thriving: AIDS, Politics, and Culture
You Can’t Get AIDS from…
Open DescriptionSince the first announcements about AIDS appeared in the early 1980s, myths have persisted alongside the epidemic, and rumors have accompanied emerging scientific ideas about the disease. First was the powerful stigma attached to the 4 H’s—homosexuals, Haitians, hemophiliacs, and heroin-IV drug users—those initially believed to be at risk for contracting AIDS. Then came unfounded concerns about catching AIDS from drinking fountains, toilet seats, handshakes, and hugs. The campaigns collected here were designed by AIDS service organizations to dispel major myths about who could contract the disease and raise awareness about how it spread. By directly confronting AIDS myths and rumors, these efforts ensured that more people understood that AIDS was not a punishment or a disease that only affected “at-risk” populations: it was something that required everyone to think and respond to in healthful ways.
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AIDS causes blindness, 1980s
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AIDS does not discriminate, 1980s
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AIDS is a white man’s disease, famous last words, 1980s
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Don’t listen to rumors about AIDS, get the facts! Patti LaBelle, 1980s
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After devastating the entire gay community of this country, AIDS is looking for something a little bit different, 1980s
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None of these will give you AIDS, 1985
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After all these years, you could have been harboring a killer, 1980s
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Another myth down the drain, 1987
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AIDS causes blindness, 1980s
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Some people think you can catch AIDS from a glass, you can’t, 1980s
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We didn’t think we could get AIDS!, 1987
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It won’t kill you to spend time with a friend who has AIDS, 1988
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You won’t get AIDS from a bug bite, 1980s
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You won’t get AIDS in a restaurant, 1980s
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You won’t get AIDS from hide ‘n’ seek, 1980s
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You won’t get AIDS from a public pool, 1980s
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AIDS is color blind, 1980s
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This homosexual has AIDS, 1987
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I have AIDS, please hug me, 1987
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Don’t worry about what you’ll pick up at work, 1980s
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The story of Jack and Jill, 1980s
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For teenagers only—from Ryan White, 1980s
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He has AIDS, we love him, 1989