Air sign seasons are famous for information flying and tangents—which we absolutely love about these periods – so this one can’t be a surprise. This time, a video about Princess Diana’s loving gloveless handshake with HIV/AIDS patients at just 26-years-old, under the stress of horrible marriage and cruel in-laws, lead me to so much damning information about President Ronald Reagan and Nancy, their staff, and how it so much related to Libra.
Bookmark this for when Republicans try and say this current regime and players are not “who they are.”
It’s always something random that piques my curiosity and leads me down a rabbit hole. This time, this Libra news history lesson was brought to me by Princess Diana—classic her. Notably, it quickly spiraled into the history of the AIDS crisis and the major players involved, shedding light on how terrible America was in the ’80s towards the gay community (there was no LGBTQ+ talk) —OMFG. It also highlights something important about Diana that many in power want to forget but of course we won’t. The royal family didn’t want her to gain more power; her confidence, courage, and boldness posed a challenge to the status quo, even ten years before she broke free from Charles and company. #caraccidentmyass But I digress, let’s get back to the victims that deserved so much better under Republican leaders.
Background on Princess Diana and AIDS
In April 1987, a 26-year-old Princess Diana opened the U.K.’s first HIV/AIDS unit for patient care. At that time, attitudes toward this brutal illness and its victims were barbaric and cruel. Yet, with one gloveless handshake, Diana changed the world’s perception of AIDS/HIV victims. Despite the public knowledge that the virus could not be transmitted through casual contact, fear prevailed. However, with one handshake by Diana, the world and its view of AIDS/HIV victims changed. When she shook hands without gloves, Diana shifted the headlines and the treatment of victims. She led the way at just 26 years old (all while dealing with her own emotionally abusive home life, amazing.) S
When I stumbled upon that BBC archive piece, I initially wanted to focus on Diana’s courageous stand for victims, of course. But a quick read made me realize how deeply this illness and Libra season are intertwined. It felt like a true Libra News Lesson moment to illuminate how we treat each other is what matters. And how standing for others is the thing.
Quick Background on HIV/AIDS History and Astrology
The AIDS crisis first emerged publicly in 1981, coinciding with Pluto’s transit through Libra. The planet of transformation was confronting humanity with many horrors. Libra, a sign of justice, also has a shadow side: standing on the sidelines and failing to act based on superficiality. The brutal reality of AIDS was exacerbated by the way leaders handled it. Smart and educated Republican leaders? Hardly. Their response was inhumane and disgusting. This fear was rooted in bigotry—a lethal combination that would claim far too many lives. Until people like Diana acted. But before that, it was the first famous victim that opened people’s hearts, Rock Hudson.
The history I uncovered during this investigation revealed just how often Libra season ties into the evolution of AIDS in American life.
Back to the Early Years and Libra
From Diana, I quickly connected to Rock Hudson, the Hollywood icon who brought attention to the illness. Hudson passed away from AIDS on October 2, 1985, Libra season. (That was my first link to Libra season.) His story illustrates the shocking neglect he faced from his so-called friends, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan, who denied him the treatment he desperately needed in what can only be called heartless.
Notably, I next saw the White House’s first official mention of AIDS came on October 15, 1982 (indicated below.) This second Libra link highlighted the horrors of how people spoke about the disease and its victims, lacking compassion and balance. The horrible rest of the story seemed to indicate to me it was a moment to discuss this illness as a Libra Lesson. Because the horrors of how leaders spoke about it, to how people were the opposite of loving and balanced with patients, is the lesson. What happened in the White House press briefing in 1982 and for years after, shows a clear link to their behaviors and ethics that continue today in the current Presidential nominee and policies.
Soon after Hudson’s death, Congress finally set aside over $200 million for AIDS research. That was 4 years after it became public and thousands died with, of course, hundreds of thousands to come.
C. Everett Koop, the Surgeon General at the time, was born on October 14. His efforts to bypass Reagan’s inaction and promote awareness about AIDS were commendable, even as he held problematic views on other issues. He advocated for sex education in schools, which included condom instruction, and publicly announced tobacco’s dangers. While conservative, Koop’s advocacy and actions – including being personally opposed to abortion but unwilling to put forth medically untrue things to further that agenda, despite political pressure from Republicans to do so – makes him an interesting figure during a time of widespread ignorance. Libra fence sitting but-making-better-calls-than-not in action.
Henry Waxman, the chair of the United States House Energy Subcommittee on Health in the ’80s, lamented that the government’s AIDS response would have been different “if the same disease had appeared among Americans of Norwegian descent, or among tennis players.”*
So Yeah, The Disgraceful White House Response and First Public Comments
This brings us to a shocking exchange between reporter Lester Kinsolving and Reagan’s press secretary, Larry Speakes. Bigotry? Yep? Consequences? Nope. This marks the first official statement from the White House on AIDS, and it is beyond disgusting. If kids today wonder how we got here, they can look back on this moment as a glaring example of bigotry as policy and indifference:
“Kinsolving: Does the President have any reaction to the announcement by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta that A-I-D-S is now an epidemic in 600- over 600 cases?
Speakes: [Mumbling under his breath] A-I-D-S. [Unintelligible]
Kinsolving: Over a third of them have died. It’s known as “gay plague”.
[Scattered laughter from the press pool.]
Kinsolving: No, it is. I mean, it’s a pretty serious thing. One in every three people that get this have died. And I wonder if the President was aware of this.
Speakes: I don’t have it. Are you-
[More scattered laughter.]
Speakes: Do you?
Kinsolving: You don’t have it? Well, I’m relieved to hear that, Larry!
[Press pool laughter.]
Speakes: Do you?
Kinsolving: I’m delighted. No, I don’t.
Speakes: You didn’t answer my question. How do you know?
Kinsolving: Does the President- 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’s been no personal experience here, Lester.
Kinsolving: No I mean, I thought you [unintelligable]
Speakes: Doctor- I checked thoroughly with Dr. Ruge this morning and he’s had no, uh,
[Press pool laughter.]
Speakes: No patients suffered from A-I-D-S or whatever it is.”
Q: The President doesn’t have gay plague, is that what you’re saying or what?
MR. SPEAKES: No, I didn’t say that.
Q: Didn’t say that?
MR. SPEAKES: I thought I heard you on the State Department over there. Why didn’t you stay there? (Laughter.)
Q: Because I love you, Larry, that’s why. (Laughter.)
MR. SPEAKES: Oh, I see. Just don’t put it in those terms, Lester. (Laughter.)
Q: Oh, I retract that.
MR. SPEAKES: I hope so.
Q: It’s too late.
Sadly, there is much more of this:
“Kinsolving, despite being personally against homosexuality, continued to press Speakes on the AIDS issue over the following years. On June 12, 1983, a second exchange on the topic of AIDS occurred between Kinsolving and Speakes, in which Speakes said that the President was “briefed on the AIDS situation a number of months ago”, the first public indication that Reagan was aware of the AIDS epidemic.[10][18] As part of that same exchange, Speakes also jokingly insinuated that Kinsolving was gay himself, saying at a mention of fairy tales that “Lester’s ears perked up when you said fairy.”[19][20]” Wikipedia
This callous attitude highlights the complete failure of leadership at the highest levels. See the end of the article for more unreal but true horrible words.
(A note on Kinsolving (Sagittarius): he was a religious Episcopal priest and reporter, who was also dogged in his questioning of the White House on this important issue, even though he was mocked by reporters and the White House for doing so. Ironic and notable since he was very anti-gay. He ended up taking a lot of abuse in these briefings, but he also created a public record of these atrocities. Showing that no one is ever one thing. Also a very Libra lesson.)
Bookmark this for when Republicans try and say this current regime is not “who they are.”
Who is Rock Hudson?
Rock Hudson was a beloved Hollywood actor – his career spanned from the 40s til the 80s – who tragically contracted the HIV virus and learned of his diagnosis in 1984, dying a year later. Many adored him, such a babe and talent – yet few knew he was gay—a heartbreaking reality of the time.
Between his diagnosis in June 1984 and his collapse in a Paris hotel in July 1985, Hudson sought treatment in France, a leader in AIDS research. His French doctor wanted to treat him again, but as it was a military hospital and Hudson wasn’t French he was denied. Hudson asked his friends, the President and First Lady of The United States, to intervene, but was told, sorry no can do. (They tried to act like they couldn’t use their position but they did it all the time for stuff far less important too, so yeah. They were mean and cruel and that is that. OOOOOF.)
“According to documents published by BuzzFeed on Wednesday, Nancy Reagan, the US first lady, declined to help.” – 2015 The Guardian
In the end the Defense Minister of France intervened and he did receive treatment but it was too late for him. He returned home to the U.S. and died several months later.
Timeline of Shame
“By the beginning of 1985, more than 5,500 people had died from AIDS, but the US government had taken few significant steps toward addressing it. The administration even proposed a $10 million cut in AIDS funding from the federal budget.” (Source: The Guardian)
By the end of the following year, the death toll would be five times this number.
- May 25, 1983: The New York Times publishes its first front-page story on AIDS, reporting that the health chief called the AIDS battle “No. 1 Priority.” By then, 1,450 cases of AIDS had been reported, with 558 deaths. (Source: HIV.gov)
Reagan gave his first address on AIDS at the end of May 1987. Four years earlier, the health chief had recognized it as a priority, deeming is #1, yet the administration showed little concern. No words.
Headlines of the White House’s action at the time are deplorable (and note these call came out in typical Sag Season calling it like what is WHICH WE ARE HERE FOR! :
Amira, Dan (December 2, 2013). “AIDS Was Hilarious to the Reagan White House, Press Corps”. New York Magazine.
Leon, Harmon (December 1, 2015). “Listen to the Reagan Administration Laughing at the AIDS Epidemic”. Vice.
Geidner, Chris (December 2, 2013). “13 Times The Reagan White House Press Briefing Erupted With Laughter Over AIDS”. BuzzFeed.
Lawson, Richard (December 1, 2015). “The Reagan Administration’s Unearthed Response to the AIDS Crisis Is Chilling”. Vanity Fair.
The Silence = Death Project
If there’s ever a statement that Libras – and of course all of us! – need to heed, it’s this: sitting on the fence = death. Not speaking up = death. We must stand for something. Pick a side. Because in not choosing as the saying goes, you are making a choice—and it’s no bueno.
As we move forward, let’s carry the Libra lessons of choice and decision-making and love with us. It takes courage to do what’s right when those around us act out of fear. Let us see the failures of these “leaders” as cautionary tales and strive for better.
Also, isn’t it crazy how these issues show up during certain seasons? Lessons all around…
Updated World Health Organization stats on the disease can be found here. There are many organization to help with this or other illnesses. Get to it! We got lots of people to love on, like Princess Diana, that wise Cancer, Sag, Aquarius 🙂
* Dr. Fauci’s Remarks: Introduction and Presentation of 2012 C. Everett Koop Award to Rep. Waxman (Speech). 2012 C. Everett Koop Award. Fauci, Anthony (November 27, 2012).
Help from Wiki researching here. Help free resources of information be their best and help us all!
More horrible words from the Reagan White House: Just four years after the disease was identified and weeks after an old friend of the Reagans died, this was their response:
On December 11, 1984: From a Vanity Fair article on a film titled, When AIDS Was Funny. I know, oof. Also, audio recordings of this are also available online and are flipping chilling.
Kinsolving: Would you ask him, Larry? [Conversation continues without question being answered.]
Kinsolving: Since the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta-
[Laughter and chatter from press pool begins, and continues throughout.]
Speakes: [laughing] This is gonna be an AIDS question?
Kinsolving: …that an estimated- [interrupted by chatter] Look, can I ask the question Larry? An estimated three hundred thousand people have been exposed to AIDS which can be transmitted through saliva.[a] Will the President as Commander in Chief take steps to protect armed forces who perform medical services from, um, AIDS patients, or those who run the risk of spreading AIDS in the same manner that they vet typhoid fever people from being involved in health or food services?
[Unintelligible cross-chatter and laughter.]
Kinsolving: Could you… [voice rising] Is the President concerned about this subject Larry? That seems to have evoked so much jocular reaction here. I- you know-
Speakes: [overlapping] I haven’t heard him express… concern. I haven’t heard him express…
Unidentified speaker: It isn’t only the jocks, Lester!
Unidentified speaker: Has he sworn off water faucets?[b]
Kinsolving: No but I mean, is he going to do anything, Larry?
Speakes: Lester, I have not heard him express anything on it. Sorry.
Kinsolving: You mean he has no- expressed no opinion about this epidemic?
Speakes: [mocking] No, but I must confess I haven’t asked him about it.
Wants to know. Has some questions. Very Sag. Always up for pizza. Planning several trips. Big fan of joy. Wants to talk about it. All of them. Is sure we can figure out this whole living thing. Is rooting for you.
