Interview: Louis Bradbury

Tell us about your history in the AIDS epidemic.

I joined the board of Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) in 1990 and was president from 1993 to 1997. That was a very dark time, without much hope. Everyone thought they were dying. I went to so many funerals. What I am most proud of from my time at GMHC is establishing the Testing Center in the early 90’s. As late as 1992, the official policy of GMHC and other HIV organizations was to recommend that gay men not get tested, because many activist leaders contended that the possible discrimination was worse than the disease. That policy was observed mostly in the breach, but I found it quite disturbing when I was told about it in 1991. Many of us advocated for a change, as we believed that everyone should have knowledge of their status so they could make informed choices as to medical intervention and/or safer sex practices. In fairness, early testing was done by the City generally and was not as reliable or confidential. In fact, my first test in 1988 resulted in an indeterminate result, which was very frightening until a retest. We were finally able to change that policy when the cocktail became available. It was then that I could convince the Board and staff that a testing facility that incorporated the best standards of care and confidentiality should be set up by GMHC. That’s when I approached Andy Spahn of the Geffen Foundation, and they granted us $2.5 million to create the Geffen Testing Center, which the staff of GMHC created and which I believe is still the model for testing centers. It was very gratifying that Kelsey announced earlier this year that GMHC believed that testing would be one of the key elements in their effort to eliminate HIV in the next five years.

And what about your involvement with The Calamus Foundation?

I had known Shelly Kaplan for years, when he asked me to join the small board. He died in 2004 and left $20 million to the Foundation. Today, we grant about $2 million a year to three different areas – LGBT issues; HIV/AIDS; and architectural education.

How did AIDS philanthropy change after the cocktail?

Support for GMHC from the white gay male community dwindled, and as the disease spread to non-gay people, GMHC welcomed them. Many were afraid or ashamed to go to clinics in their communities. GMHC was and is still there for all people with HIV, who can let down their guard once they’re inside the doors of GMHC. That’s so important.

What are your hopes for the Memorial?

I hope it will be a testament to all the people who rallied to defeat HIV, not just the well-known folks. Otherwise the Memorial will only reflect the views of people who write their own books or want us to forget that we didn’t always agree, that some of us were also right some of the time. All sorts of people came together when the government wasn’t doing anything. AIDS is what galvanized the LGBT community, making us an activist force, working in ways that each of us could. So many people, gay and straight, did so many great things.