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Ignorance

1982. In London, whispers begin of a mysterious β€˜gay plague’. As men contract Aids in alarming numbers, the community rallies to protect others from infection.

London, 1982. Thirteen years after the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, the largest gay club in Europe opens its doors, and Heaven is packed. Whispers begin to circulate of a mysterious new disease, a β€˜gay cancer’ from New York, and Terry Higgins becomes one of the first people in Britain to die from what will become known as an Aids-related disease.

Activists and doctors come together to discover what they can about this new virus as the number of infected starts to rise. Fear and stigma spread across the nation, contributing to a culture of extreme homophobia and ignorance. Gay activists take charge of trying to spread educational messages about safe sex for the first time.

The stories of men including David, Pete, John and Tony, recorded at the time, bring these experiences to life. Their real voices are lip-synced by actors, giving first-hand insight into their lives at the time. They try to understand what they are hearing about Aids and cope with discovering their diagnoses at a time of heightened stigma and fear, when there is no cure.

As 1985 arrives, and with it the first HTLV-3 antibody test, the numbers of those infected with HIV gradually become clear, and the true scale of the epidemic begins to emerge.

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59 minutes

Audio described

Last on

Thu 30 Jun 2022 23:15

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Music Played

  • Divine

    Native Love (Step By Step) (Alternative Remix)

  • U96

    Ambient Underworld

  • Hazell Dean

    Searchin'

  • Donna Summer

    Love to Love You Baby

  • Diana Ross

    No One Gets The Prize

  • Yazoo

    Situation

  • The Clash

    The Magnificent Dance

  • Depeche Mode

    Leave In Silence

  • The Teardrop Explodes

    Reward

  • Jean‐Michel Jarre

    Oxygène Part IV

  • Jean Michel Jarre, Jean-Michel Jarre

    Oxygene 8

  • Jean‐Michel Jarre

    Oxygene, Pt. 4

  • Frankie Goes to Hollywood

    Relax

  • This Mortal Coil

    Song To The Siren

  • Bronski Beat

    Why?

  • Intoxicados

    El Rey

  • David Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto

    Forbidden Colours

  • David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto

    Forbidden Colours

  • Pet Shop Boys

    In The Night (2018 Remastered)

Credits

Role Contributor
Director Mark Henderson
Series Producer Morgana Pugh
Executive Producer Leanne Klein

Broadcasts

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Discover more about the reality of living with HIV, by watching personal stories from The Open University

Visit The Open University website to learn more about HIV and AIDS.