June 5, 2026, marked 45 years since the first case of HIV was reported. In the early 1980s, a diagnosis was confusing and frightening because the condition was not well understood. As a person who had gotten sick with pneumocystis pneumonia in early 1982, I was told to go home and get my affairs in order. I was given the diagnosis of GRID — Gay Related Immune Deficiency — a term used before AIDS was named in 1982. At first, many people were diagnosed only after developing serious illnesses, since reliable testing and treatments were not available. 

There was often stigma, fear and misinformation, which could lead to isolation and discrimination. When admitted to the hospital in the early 1980s, HIV patients were not allowed visitors and meals were left in the hall. At times they were so weak they were unable to retrieve it.

What began as a death sentence evolved into a manageable condition with the advancement of science, an understanding of health disparities and establishment of programs like The Ryan White Care Act, an HIV-dedicated HUD program and an investment in prevention through CDC and global partnerships through PEPFAR. Many of the architects of these systems didn’t survive long enough to see the incredible impact they had. Federal funding cuts threaten this successful yet fragile framework.

Today, we must remember this difficult history so we can continue to progress in the fight to end AIDS. People can show their support for survivors and honor those we’ve lost by calling our representatives and letting them know how important our public health programs are.

Peter Mandly
Mercer