Larry Kramer

Larry Kramer 2010 Photo - David Shankbone

Larry Kramer (June 25, 1935 – May 27, 2020) was an American playwright, author, film producer, public health advocate, and LGBT rights activist. He is best known for his work in the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis and for his advocacy for gay rights.

Early Life and Education

Larry Kramer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and grew up in Washington, D.C.. He attended Yale University, where he was a member of the Yale Dramatic Association. After graduating in 1957, he began his career in the entertainment industry.

Career

Film and Theater

Kramer started his career in the film industry, working as a scriptwriter for Columbia Pictures. He wrote the screenplay for the 1969 film Women in Love, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.

In 1985, Kramer wrote The Normal Heart, a play that dramatizes the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City. The play was a critical success and has been revived several times, including a 2011 Broadway production that won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.

Activism

Kramer was a co-founder of the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) in 1982, the first service organization for HIV/AIDS patients. However, he later left GMHC due to disagreements over the organization's approach to activism.

In 1987, Kramer founded ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), a direct action advocacy group working to improve the lives of people with AIDS through legislation, medical research, treatment, and policies. ACT UP is known for its aggressive and confrontational tactics, which brought significant attention to the AIDS crisis.

Personal Life

Kramer was openly gay and a prominent figure in the LGBT community. He was known for his outspoken and often controversial views. In 2013, he married his partner, David Webster, in a hospital in New York City.

Legacy

Larry Kramer is remembered as a pioneering figure in the fight against HIV/AIDS and for his contributions to LGBT rights. His work has had a lasting impact on public health policy and the LGBT community.

Works

• The Normal Heart (1985)
• The Destiny of Me (1992)
• Reports from the Holocaust: The Making of an AIDS Activist (1989)
• Faggots (1978)

See Also

• HIV/AIDS activism
• LGBT rights in the United States
• ACT UP
• Gay Men's Health Crisis