The AIDS Quilt peaked my interest the most. I think it embodies the kind of theraputic activism that we have discussed in class many times. One man made his own quilt square that read "if you are reading this then I am dead." It may have been a way for him to come to terms with dying. I also liked the many different ways people represented their lives on the quilt squares with photos and clothing and personal possessions.
The people who opposed the quilt were predictable in some aspects. Anti-LGBTQ+ activists made sense but the AIDS activists that were against the montezation of quilt was a perspective that I had not considered. Certainly the quilt probably helped many people grieve, but if the money for the quilt's merch was used for anything other than funding the quilt or AIDS research/foundations, it is a bit wrong in my opinion.
I was also surprised to find out that Magic Johnson has AIDS. I recognize now that he is a big advocate for AIDS research and awareness. Magic Johnson is a household name so it was probably odd that I did not know this about him, but being a household name, it is good of him to advocate for it.