Essay on Gay Rights: Larry Kramer

Larry Kramer, an author, screenwriter, and very well-known gay rights activist, dedicated much of his life to the causes he believed in. Kramer published many works of art that focused on his dedication to the LGBTQ+ movement. Specifically, he wrote about the AIDS epidemic that was surging throughout the United States. This topic affected him dearly, because he, himself, was a gay man who witnessed the death and sickness of many other gay men in the country. Some examples of his creations include The Normal Heart and The Destiny of Me, for which he received both praise and criticism. Kramer founded organizations to protest and demand improved conditions for gay men, especially amid the search for a cure to AIDS. Kramer founded the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in 1982, but eventually resigned from his position after deeming the methods of the organization insufficient for change. Later in his life, he created the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, otherwise known as ACT UP. Through this group, he boycotted, debated, argued, and stipulated change. Until his death on May 27th, 2020, Kramer remained a dedicated advocate and activist of the gay rights movement.

Larry Kramer became interested in the gay rights movement through various means of exposure to the topic. Firstly, Kramer grew up during a time in which homophobia persisted; “I could not walk into a bar, could not walk among other gay men...Washington was a hot bed for people out to get gay people” (Zandi). This first-hand experience towards the hate that gay people experienced could have greatly affected the means in which Kramer sought gay rights. In addition, Kramer attended Yale University, where he also experienced accounts of hate and homophobia. This caused Kramer to fall into a depressive state in which he nearly committed suicide (Pallardy). Fortunately, for him, he was able to recover and build his way up through show business (Zandi).

As Kramer gravitated towards the entertainment industry, he began to write his own plays, especially about gay culture (Zandi). Kramer published various plays and novels that highlighted some of his thoughts and observations of the gay community. His book, Faggots is a great example of how Kramer emphasized various aspects hidden within gay culture that few people openly recognized (Lewis). Kramer also spoke about his feelings in interpreting his experience and beliefs into his work for plays such as Sissies’ Scrapbook: “I was not writing anything that meant anything to me— that is, that I had something invested in, like being gay” (Kramer). Thus, Kramer continued to bring in concepts of being gay into his work as time went on.

Kramer dove into activism upon the outbreak and rise of deaths among gay men due to the AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) epidemic. Kramer was deeply affected by these events, because many of his friends were afflicted by this disease, sometimes resulting in death (Pallardy). Kramer did not wish to watch these perilous circumstances continue, so he wanted to take action in pursuit of a solution.

Kramer produced many activist methods throughout his experience in his campaign during the gay rights movement. For instance, Kramer co-founded a group known as the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in 1982. The group’s intent was to advocate for HIV-positive people, though Kramer disapproved of the organization’s slow and meek approach to the topic (Pallardy). Kramer often took a more aggressive role in his advocating for change, which resulted in his removal from the group (Lewis). Kramer once said, “I am going to go out screaming so f****** rudely that you will hear this coarse, crude voice of mine in your nightmares! You are going to die, and you are going to die very, very soon unless you get up off your f****** tushies and fight back!” (Ulaby). Despite this setback, Kramer did not end his activism here. Kramer continued to promote change during the crisis.

Kramer helped form another organization later in his life, which was known as ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power). The organization focused on “street actions demanding a speedup in AIDS drugs research and an end to discrimination against gay men and lesbians” (Lewis) and “performed guerrilla acts of disruption against public officials, scientists and religious leaders” (Schudel) to achieve this. Kramer actively participated within and led efforts of attack in order to accomplish various forms of success for the movement. This includes his public speeches in which he often called out various individuals for not taking a loud enough stand: If my speech tonight doesn't scare the s[***] out of you, we're in real trouble. If what you're hearing doesn't rouse you to anger, fury, rage, and action, gay men will have no future here on earth. How long does it take before you get angry and fight back?” (Shull). Kramer is also responsible for calling various government officials “murderers” (Pallardy) which continues to show his aggressive approach in the gay rights movement.

On top of the foundation and formation of numerous organizations, Kramer published articles and organized protests and demonstrations to raise awareness on the topics he advocated (Pallardy). Occasionally, Kramer would protest by holding signs that were provocative terms that demeaned government officials and their actions (Zandi). Additionally, Kramer and other activists set up a blockade on Wall Street and chained themselves to railings at the New York Stock Exchange to protest the very high and expensive prices of experimental drugs needed to further HIV research (Pallardy).

Through all of Kramer’s triumphs, attacks, trials, and debates, he managed to establish a lasting legacy on the gay rights movement. Continuing his efforts even after his emphatic protests, Kramer returned to his writing roots. Kramer wrote many more plays and novels on the topic of gay rights (Pallardy). One very well-known work of art that he created is The Normal Heart which is a play that follows characters living during the AIDS epidemic. It largely resembles Kramer’s attempts to shine a light on the severity of the gay rights movement during the critical time period (Lewis). Another work of his, The Destiny of Me continues where its sequel, The Normal Heart, left off. This play also focuses on the effects that the AIDS epidemic had on people and society (Schudel). Many of Kramer’s creations, these plays included, received both backlash and praise. Despite receiving various award nominations and prizes for The Normal Heart and a Pulitzer Prize for The Destiny of Me (Schudel), as well as additional awards for his literature and speeches, Kramer was often criticized for his powerful and often distinct stances on various issues regarding the gay rights movement (Pallardy). Kramer remained actively involved and dedicated with the gay rights movement until his death on May 27th, 2020.

Upon reading about Larry Kramer’s history and life, I can assuredly say that I am greatly inspired by him. Rarely do I ever find someone as impactful as Kramer through my studies. I admire how Kramer so bravely and boldly stood his ground to fight for what he believed in. His extraordinary efforts to improve the lives of gay men across the nation by demanding change, whether it be in the form of experimental drugs or research, will never be forgotten. I believe that Larry Kramer serves as a perfect role model for what an upstander should be. Through many different approaches, such as screenwriting, television, or publishing books, Kramer was able to broadcast his message to the public. He wanted to raise awareness of the vital issues surging around the country, especially considering the fact that people were dying, and he thought that no one was helping. Despite the fact that Kramer and his methods sometimes received harsh repercussions due to his radical approaches, I still strongly support Kramer’s actions. Though some efforts might have been extreme, I do not believe Kramer could have achieved the awareness he had through his efforts without acting upon it. Kramer emphasized forcing change and I uphold Kramer for his decisions and actions.