Huracán SIDA Poster
Author: César Carrasco
Date: July - August 1990
Demonstration: Puerto Rico protests, Huracán SIDA
People: César Carrasco
Description: In a month-long series of actions, coinciding with a number of AIDS conferences, ACT UP NY led by the Latina/o Caucus and the newly-formed ACT UP Puerto Rico worked to increase AIDS awareness in Puerto Rico. Despite having the highest rate of new AIDS cases in the Western hemisphere in the early 90's, Puerto Rico had almost no treatments nor safer sex education because of its colonial status, poor local leadership and the influence of the Catholic church. Two hundred people of all ages and orientations marched from the Capitol Building in San Juan to the Governor's mansion demanding that condoms, safer sex guidelines and clean needles for intravenous drug users be distributed island-wide. ACT UP NY and ACT UP Puerto Rico demanded immediate availability of treatments for People Living with AIDS and increased Medicaid coverage. Additionally, the ACT UP NY Latina/o Caucus mobilizations in Puerto Rico set the stage for the Pride Parade in San Juan, which was held for the first time the following year.
Collection: César Carrasco