Others have already made this point, but I will reiterate it: the same people who said you couldn't be in the same room with a gay man during the height of HIV are those who are now mocking people for wearing masks. Cultural conservatism is not just irrational, but also wicked.

So I'm already getting some infuriating responses to this. *Yes*, what I am describing is accurate. Children were kicked out of school b/c they were HIV+. People lost jobs. It was a big deal when Princess Diana or President Clinton showed hugged or touched HIV+ patients.

And discrimination was a problem that was endemic in society, but the fans of hatred and fear were flamed by cultural conservatives. Reagan *knew* HIV couldn't be spread through simple contact, but refused to tell people. Right wingers attacked patients.