In response to today’s passing of Larry Kramer, the playwright who wrote the Tony Award-winning play A Normal Heart, among others, and gave a voice to AIDS activism, the Los Angeles LGBT Center issued the following statement:
“It is impossible to overstate what Larry Kramer has meant in the battle against HIV and AIDS. His presence as a voice of conscience—and often, righteous anger—looms above all others. This dogged, relentless commitment was born out of a love for his community and an absolute conviction that if our leaders did not—would not—recognize our humanity, then we would demand it and fight for it ourselves. This fierce passion and moral courage set a high bar—not just in the fight against HIV and AIDS, but also in the evolving struggle for LGBT rights. This is a gift—and a shared responsibility—that his life has imparted to all queer people as we continue to fight for the dignity, justice, and equality we deserve.”