When AIDS Was Funny

The film plays controversial audio of the White House's acting press spokesman, Larry Speakes, responding to questions by making homophobic jokes[https://www.vox.com/2015/12/1/11621062/documentary-when-aids-was-funny-shows-reagan-administrations Documentary 'When AIDS Was Funny' Shows Reagan Administration's Indifference - Vox][https://www.vice.com/en/article/listen-to-the-reagan-administration-laughing-at-the-aids-epidemic-511/ Listen to the Reagan Administration Laughing at the AIDS Epidemic - VICE] on the escalating AIDS epidemic by journalist Lester Kinsolving.[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2013/12/aids-white-house-larry-speakes-joke-press-briefing-1982.html AIDS Was Hilarious to the Reagan White House, Press Corps - New York Magazine]

The audio recordings are from several of the Reagan administration's press conferences in the 1980s. The audio is juxtaposed with images of AIDS patients at Seattle's Bailey-Boushay House in the 1990s.{{cite news|magazine=Vanity Fair|title=The Reagan Administration's Unearthed Response to the AIDS Crisis Is Chilling|first=Richard|last=Lawson|date=December 1, 2015|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/11/reagan-administration-response-to-aids-crisis}}

The controversial dismissal of the growing AIDS epidemic is heard in the film through a series of press conferences in the 1980s, such as this 1982 exchange between Speakes and Kinsolving:Eilperin, Juliette (December 4, 2013) [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/12/04/how-attitudes-toward-aids-have-changed-in-the-white-house-and-beyond/ "How attitudes toward AIDS have changed, in the White House and beyond."] Washington Post. (Retrieved 7-7-2014.)

{{blockquote|

KINSOLVING: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement—the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, that A-I-D-S is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?

SPEAKES: What's A-I-D-S?

KINSOLVING: Over a third of them have died. It's known as "gay plague." (Laughter.) No, it is. I mean it's a pretty serious thing that one in every three people that get this have died. And I wondered if the President is aware of it?

SPEAKES: I don't have it. Do you? (Laughter.)

KINSOLVING: No, I don't.

SPEAKES: You didn't answer my question.

KINSOLVING: Well, I just wondered, does the President—

SPEAKES: How do you know? (Laughter.)

KINSOLVING: In other words, the White House looks on this as a great joke?

SPEAKES: No, I don't know anything about it, Lester.

KINSOLVING: Does the President, does anybody in the White House know about this epidemic, Larry?

SPEAKES: I don't think so. I don't think there's been any—

KINSOLVING: Nobody knows?

SPEAKES: There has been no personal experience here, Lester.

KINSOLVING: No, I mean, I thought you were keeping—

SPEAKES: I checked thoroughly with Dr. Ruge this morning and he's had no—(laughter)—no patients suffering from A-I-D-S or whatever it is.

KINSOLVING: The President doesn't have gay plague, is that what you're saying or what?

SPEAKES: No, I didn't say that.

KINSOLVING: Didn't say that?

SPEAKES: I thought I heard you on the State Department over there. Why didn't you stay there? (Laughter.)

KINSOLVING: Because I love you, Larry, that's why. (Laughter.)

SPEAKES: Oh, I see. Just don't put it in those terms, Lester. (Laughter.)

KINSOLVING: Oh, I retract that.

SPEAKES: I hope so.

}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5260372/ When AIDS Was Funny on IMDb]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAzDn7tE1lU The entire film on Vanity Fair's official YouTube channel]

Category:2015 short documentary films

Category:HIV/AIDS in British films

Category:British collage films

Category:2015 films

Category:British short documentary films

Category:Films set in the 1980s

Category:British LGBTQ-related short films

Category:British LGBTQ-related documentary films

Category:2015 LGBTQ-related films