Health
In Montgomery County, like elsewhere in the United States, the stigma surrounding LGBTQ+ identities until the late twentieth century meant that people from marginalized sex and gender identities either addressed their health needs at local medical centers while concealing their orientations, or traveled out of the county to Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, where safe spaces of care were already established. Others still may have foregone the care they needed out of fear of exposure and its consequences.
In Montgomery County, like elsewhere in the United States, the stigma surrounding LGBTQ+ identities until the late twentieth century meant that people from marginalized sex and gender identities either addressed their health needs at local medical centers while concealing their orientations, or traveled out of the county to Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, where safe spaces of care were already established. Others still may have foregone the care they needed out of fear of exposure and its consequences.
As a result, sites of health for the LGBTQ+ community were often found in less traditional medical spaces. As Katie Batza writes in LGBTQ America,
As a result, sites of health for the LGBTQ+ community were often found in less traditional medical spaces. As Katie Batza writes in LGBTQ America,
"With the distrust produced by the stigma and consequences of diagnosis being so extreme for much of the twentieth century, many of these health sites appear in places or areas where members of the LBGTQ community already felt comfortable, such as bars or gay enclaves." [p. 22-18].
"With the distrust produced by the stigma and consequences of diagnosis being so extreme for much of the twentieth century, many of these health sites appear in places or areas where members of the LBGTQ community already felt comfortable, such as bars or gay enclaves." [p. 22-18].
AIDS activists block buses at the "Seize Control of the FDA" protest on October 11, 1988 (Montgomery History)
With the onset of the AIDS epidemic in 1981, LGBTQ+ health became a more mainstream topic of discussion in Montgomery County. As elsewhere, misinformation about the virus and its transmissibility spread rapidly, resulting in discrimination that in turn negatively impacted the treatment that LGBTQ+ people, especially gay men, received during this period. Efforts to fight misinformation and provide treatment and other resources emerged in Montgomery County through formal and informal channels. Furthermore, because both the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health were headquartered in Montgomery County, the area was also a focal point for AIDS activism, drawing protesters from across the country.
With the onset of the AIDS epidemic in 1981, LGBTQ+ health became a more mainstream topic of discussion in Montgomery County. As elsewhere, misinformation about the virus and its transmissibility spread rapidly, resulting in discrimination that in turn negatively impacted the treatment that LGBTQ+ people, especially gay men, received during this period. Efforts to fight misinformation and provide treatment and other resources emerged in Montgomery County through formal and informal channels. Furthermore, because both the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health were headquartered in Montgomery County, the area was also a focal point for AIDS activism, drawing protesters from across the country.
This exhibit explores three topics related to LGBTQ+ health in Montgomery County:
This exhibit explores three topics related to LGBTQ+ health in Montgomery County:
Montgomery County's response to the AIDS crisis comprised a variety of strategies. Some were initiatives planned by the county government, while others took shape from community-based organizations serving the LGBTQ+ population.
Montgomery County's response to the AIDS crisis comprised a variety of strategies. Some were initiatives planned by the county government, while others took shape from community-based organizations serving the LGBTQ+ population.
On October 11, 1988, approximately 1,500 activists protested at the headquarters of the Food and Drug Administration in Rockville. Coordinated by a loose coalition of ACT UP members from across the country, the protest sought to compel the FDA to speed up its work on AIDS drug research, development, and approval.
On October 11, 1988, approximately 1,500 activists protested at the headquarters of the Food and Drug Administration in Rockville. Coordinated by a loose coalition of ACT UP members from across the country, the protest sought to compel the FDA to speed up its work on AIDS drug research, development, and approval.
On May 21, 1990, over one thousand activists from ACT UP surrounded the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda to protest the agency's handling of the AIDS epidemic. Protesters demanded that the NIH speed up its research, include AIDS activists and patients in the research process, and increase representation of women and people of color in its trials.
On May 21, 1990, over one thousand activists from ACT UP surrounded the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda to protest the agency's handling of the AIDS epidemic. Protesters demanded that the NIH speed up its research, include AIDS activists and patients in the research process, and increase representation of women and people of color in its trials.
You can navigate to these pages from these links or using the drop-down menu above.
You can navigate to these pages from these links or using the drop-down menu above.
While we know that the topic of LGBTQ+ health and wellness goes far beyond the AIDS crisis, we currently lack information about it in Montgomery County.
While we know that the topic of LGBTQ+ health and wellness goes far beyond the AIDS crisis, we currently lack information about it in Montgomery County.
Do you have information about LGBTQ+ health and wellness in Montgomery County? We want to hear from you!
Do you have information about LGBTQ+ health and wellness in Montgomery County? We want to hear from you!