Reagan and the AIDS Crisis: A Callous Response

This chapter examines Ronald Reagan's initial attempts to engage with the LGBTQ+ community during the AIDS crisis, juxtaposed with the administration's inadequate response to the epidemic. It highlights the deep-seated homophobia that influenced political decisions and media coverage at the time, as well as the dismissive attitudes of the White House towards urgent health concerns. Through tense exchanges and reflections on political motivations, the narrative reveals how cultural biases shaped the collective indifference to the plight of marginalized groups during this critical period.