By Sharon L. Cohen

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1935, Larry Kramer is considered one of the most prominent gay activists of the 20th century. His impactful literature and advocacy endeavors altered negative national perceptions to significantly improve AIDS health policies. Kramer became known for his combative and antagonistic style of protesting that often put him at odds with both allies and opponents.

Emerging Writer

Larry Kramer in 2010 – By David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons. Used through CC BY 2.0 license.

Laurence “Larry” Kramer spent most of his childhood in the Washington, DC metro area but returned to Connecticut for college. He graduated from Yale University in 1957. The alienation he felt at this time because of his homosexuality would eventually play an important role in his life. After graduation, he advanced in the fields of scriptwriting and production. His 1969 screenplay Women in Love, an adaptation of D. H. Lawrence’s novel about conflicting human emotions, was nominated for an Academy Award. He wrote Sissies’ Scrapbook/Four Friends and A Minor Dark Age in 1973.

In 1978, Kramer’s semi-autobiographical novel, Faggots, denounced promiscuous sex and recreational drug use. The book was originally condemned because of the recent growth of the gay liberation movement and its negative portrayal of New York City’s gay community. In time, however, the work’s valuable criticism was clearly recognized, and it became one of the top-selling gay classics of all time.

Growth of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

In the early 1980s, a global pandemic began taking the lives of numerous Americans, particularly in the gay and bisexual populations. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV is transferred between people through direct contact with certain bodily fluids and is often sexually transmitted.

With no good understanding of the disease, its prevalence in gay and bisexual communities, and its frequent association with drug use, AIDS accentuated society’s fears and prejudices. As more people became ill and died, federal and state governments were slow to dedicate resources and attention to developing treatments and a cure. Tens of thousands of people died each year, and in 1992, HIV infection became the leading cause of death for men aged 25 to 44 in the United States. Larry Kramer joined other authors, artists, performers, and activists to actively condemn this discrimination and demand an immediate government response.

AIDS Activism

Act Up protest in New York City – By Macmillan, Wikimedia Commons. Used through CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

As AIDS spread rapidly throughout his community, Kramer became one of the earliest and unrelenting advocates against the disease. In his 1983 essay “1,112 and Counting,” Kramer stressed the impact of shame and denial: “Every gay man who is unable to come forward now and fight to save his own life is truly helping to kill the rest of us…Unless we can generate, visibly, numbers, masses, we are going to die.” Kramer himself was diagnosed with HIV in 1988.

As the epidemic became increasingly worse, Kramer devoted most of his time to AIDS activism. Kramer and five friends founded the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) in 1981, which continues as one of the largest providers of services to individuals with AIDS worldwide. Six years later (after Kramer resigned from the GMHC in frustration in 1983), he helped establish the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP), a grassroots advocacy organization focused on direct action to end AIDS through medical research, public policy, and treatment. Adopting antagonistic approaches in both his writing and activism, Kramer went toe-to-toe with countless public officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and New York City Mayor Ed Koch.

Activism through Art

While closely working on AIDS activism, Kramer continued scriptwriting, including his 1985 semi-autobiographical play, The Normal Heart, which won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. In this theatrical work, Kramer stressed community engagement and alerted public and private interests to this life-and-death cause. His 1988 play Just Say No attacks the Ronald Reagan administration and Ed Koch for their delay in responding to AIDS.

In 1996, Kramer received the Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He became the first out gay person and creative artist receiving the Public Service Award from Common Cause, an organization that promotes government accountability and civic engagement. In 2013, he was honored with the Isabell Stevenson Award, which recognizes theater professionals contributing substantially to humanitarian needs. His last books were both volumes in The American People series published in 2016 and 2020 prior to his death in 2020. Criticized for unsupported claims, his literary fiction satirizes American history by making gay life an integral part of historical events and leaders from the Stone Age to present times.

Larry Kramer died of pneumonia on May 27, 2020 in New York City. In addition to the advocacy organizations he founded, Kramer left behind a legacy of blending art and activism. Kramer’s combative style of activism drew plenty of criticism, but his persistence raised public awareness of AIDS as a public health crisis.

Sharon L. Cohen is a communication specialist and professional writer who has authored several books on business and Connecticut communities.