The singers in white represent the remaining living members of the original chorus...

[QueerDuck]

A powerful image of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus shows how the 1980s HIV epidemic devastated the gay community. The singers in white represent the remaining living members of the original chorus, while those in black represent those lost to AIDS. By 1996, the obituary list was 47 names longer than the chorus roster. ⁠

[brer cat]

1. Powerful image. It really brings the loss home.

[liberalla]

8. The image really struck me too.

Having those in black representing those who are gone, facing the back is quite effective.
They are faceless and they are missing.
I feel a sad, sober longing for what should have been.

[marble falls]

2. I didn't lose a lot of friends, but I did lose important people in my life.

[QueerDuck]

3. I lost count and stopped going to funerals.

[ZDU]

11. Yes!

I stopped counting and really don't know exactly how I pulled through that darkness

[Teacher of the Year]

13. The same.

After losing some of my nearest and dearest I stopped going. Even now, when I am losing a whole new round of friends and family to old age I can't' get myself to do it. I go have a conversation in my head or even out loud with my friends. I mark their passing but privately. Sigh.

[marble falls]

14. I got numbed to it. My worst times was when it was a topic for jokes on the tube and a sick friend would be in ...

... the same room. I remember opening refrigerators of friends I didn't know had it and finding out by the medications on a shelf.

[BeneteauBum]

4. Wow

Peace ☮️

[homegirl]

5. I remember a

young gay man who was a supplier to the business I worked for collapsing in tears. I hugged him while he cried "I can't do it anymore, I have been to 83 funerals this month." San Francisco was draped in funeral black...

[peppertree]

6. Reminds me of how smug and self-satisfied Mi'ssippi Republicans were at the tragedy back then

They very much felt the victims not only deserved it - but that God would have somehow been remiss if He hadn't "stuck them down."



That's what most of the MAGA base is made up of these days.

[Easterncedar]

7. Lest we forget. This is heartbreaking.

[Buddyzbuddy]

9. That image is such an accurate, haunting display.

[ZDU]

10. I'm lucky

... to have survived. I left SF in 2000. I miss my friends so much and I miss the liberation the City taught me. I miss it so much

[orangecrush]

12. ...