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UNITED KINGDOM

BBC Radio to Examine How Aids Changed America
 

■ Paul Michael Glaser photo courtesy Made in Manchester Productions

MANCHESTER, November 20, 2008  –  American actor Paul Michael Glaser, who played Starsky in the long running US cop series Starsky and Hutch, is to host a special BBC Radio programme to coincide with World Aids Day.

How Aids Changed America is to be transmitted on BBC Radio 2, Britain’s most listened to radio station, at 10.30om on Tuesday December 2 – the day following World Aids Day.

In the programme, produced by Made in Manchester Productions for the BBC, Mr Glaser will look back at nearly three decades of pain, prejudice and progress in the American peoples’ struggle with HIV/Aids.

“Paul’s life was turned upside down by the epidemic when his wife Elizabeth contracted the virus through a blood transfusion,” Ashley Byrne, the creative director ar Made in Manchester Productions, pointed out.

“Both his wife and daughter later died of an Aids-related illness.

“Through archive, some of it collected by former Washington Post journalist John-Manuel Andriote, as well as new interviews, How Aids Changed America examines how the crisis really did change attitudes,” says Ashley who also presents the BBC’s only regular LGBT programme (The Gay Hour on BBC Radio Manchester every Monday night from 8pm).

“John – diagnosed HIV-positive himself in 2005 – has spent more than 20 years researching the issue and is one of the leading experts on America’s Aids story and has been vital to this programme.

“This documentary is an emotional and historic rollercoaster through 27 years of struggle and includes powerful testimonies from people who have lived half their lives with HIV.” adds Mr. Byrne.

How Aids Changed America examines the pain – from the heady disco days of pre-Aids San Francisco through the shocking arrival of Aids on the gay scene, and how citizen after citizen was suddenly struck down by this mysterious new illness.

It charts the prejudice – how the illness was misunderstood in the early years and how the US establishment struggled to come to terms with what was happening.

It also looks at the progress – greater awareness and acceptance of people with the virus, and the emergence of life-extending drugs.

And it brings things bang up to date as we examine whether or not Aids, which has claimed the lives of more than half a million US citizens, really has changed America after all.

Those recalling the early days of HIV/Aids in America include Cleve Jones, founder of the HIV/Aids Memorial Quilt, controversial gay rights activist Larry Kramer and Paul Michael Glaser himself.

■ How Aids Changed America is produced by Ashley Byrne and John-Manuel Andriote and is a Made in Manchester Production for BBC Radio 2.

■  Paul Michael Glaser stars in the traditional pantomime Aladdin at the Sunderland Empire in the north-east of England from December 5 to January 4.

Seed Newsvine  

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