Mary Fisher's courageous 1992 speech at the Republican National Convention tackled the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS, sharing her personal diagnosis as a mother. She passionately called on the Republican Party to show compassion and support for those affected. Recalling her desire for her children to grow up free of shame, Fisher's words became a legacy of empowerment. This impactful moment shifted public perceptions and inspired future generations to confront the AIDS crisis with awareness and hope.
10:04
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Max's Discrimination
Mary Fisher's son Max faced discrimination due to her HIV diagnosis.
He wasn't allowed to bring home a stuffed animal and lost friends.
insights INSIGHT
Early HIV/AIDS Understanding
HIV attacks the body's T lymphocytes, leading to AIDS.
Early reports in the 1980s stigmatized the disease, linking it to gay men and drug users.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Fisher's Background and Invitation
Mary Fisher, diagnosed with HIV in 1991, came from a prominent Republican family.
She was invited to speak at the 1992 Republican National Convention, a significant platform.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
When Mary Fisher was diagnosed with HIV in 1991 she did not represent the typical stereotype of someone HIV-positive. She was white, heterosexual and contracted the disease in marriage. She used her platform at the Republican National Convention in Texas in 1992 to try and change people's treatment of those carrying the Aids virus.
The speech was broadcast live to millions of people via the major US TV outlets. She argued that she did not want her sons, aged four and two, to face stigma from the "whisper of Aids" once she had died.
It is ranked as one of the most important speeches in the US in the 20th Century. Mary Fisher recalls the moment she delivered the speech to Josephine McDermott.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.
(Photo: Mary Fisher delivers her speech in 1992. Credit: AP)
Witness History