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The Early Years of the AIDS Crisis
In the early 1980s doctors began noticing rare cancers and infections striking otherwise healthy young gay men. Something was destroying their immune systems — something fatal and possibly contagious. At first it was called the 'gay plague.' Then others began dying: Haitians, intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs and heterosexuals. Fear, confusion and prejudice reigned as the disease eventually known as AIDS grew from a mystery to an epidemic. This topic contains discussion of a sexual nature. The medical information in the clips was accurate at the time of broadcast, but may have changed.		Educational activities about The Early Years of the AIDS Crisis

	Outbreak of rare cancer baffles doctors		An epidemic of AIDS, an epidemic of fear		The politics of plague
	Why are so many gay men in urban centres getting a rare cancer that normally only afflicts old men? (Radio; runs 5:31)		AIDS spreads rapidly across the globe and so do fear and discrimination. (Radio; runs 19:19)		Is AIDS God's punishment for homosexual promiscuity? Rev. Jerry Falwell thinks so. (TV; runs 14:02)

	Researchers desperately seek the cause of AIDS		Are AIDS victims a danger to society?		Canadian Red Cross begins testing blood donations for HIV
	In research labs around the world, doctors search for the virus they suspect causes AIDS. (TV; runs 4:52)		From an auditorium in Toronto, AIDS activists, experts and parents argue over how to balance the public's "right to know" with the rights of AIDS victims. (TV; runs 29:45)		Starting tomorrow, every drop of donated blood will be tested for HIV. But that's too late for those already infected. (TV; runs 3:11)

	Selling 'safe sex'		'This program may shock you; and save your life'		Living and dying with AIDS
	Before AIDS, nobody said the word "condom" on television. (TV; runs 11:04)		Quirks & Quarks presents a hard-hitting look at the fact and fiction of AIDS. (Radio; runs 50:22)		Paul Simmons died of AIDS this week. He left behind a moving documentary of the final six months of his life. (Radio; runs 34:32)

	AIDS and gay rights
	The AIDS crisis has given rise to both intolerance and a new focus for human rights. (TV; runs 2:46)

LINKS Topic from Les Archives de Radio-Canada on the same subject Sida, les premières années Related Topics from CBC's Archives First World AIDS Day CBC.ca CBC News Online: AIDS External sites HIV & AIDS Statistics for Canada UNESCO's action against AIDS Health Canada's AIDS site AIDS Education Global Information System World Health Organization HIV/AIDS Fact Sheets UNAIDS – Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS AIDS.ORG – AIDS gateway to the Internet The CBC assumes no responsibility for the content of external links.

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