Assignment 4 - Grace Bond

The photograph I chose was David Kirby on his deathbed. Kirby was a gay rights activist and learned in the 80s that he had contracted AIDS. Prior to his diagnosis, he had been estranged from his family in Ohio. When he realized he was most likely going to die, he asked his family to let him join them so he could die with them near. In the photo, Kirby is extremely weak, and does not even have the strength to move his eyes around to see his family. His loved ones have expressions of anguish and sadness. This picture has won many awards, but it's biggest effect was showing a different perspective on the HIV/AIDS epidemic at this time. These diseases were seem to be only contracted by the most undesirable of people. As they are sexually transmitted, society had not yet fully accepted anyone sexually active. This picture, however, shows the other side of the story. The side of heartbreak and families being torn apart by the death of their loved one.