The Eighties (1980 – 1989 CE)

1980

Althea Garrison volunteers for Ted Kennedy’s presidential campaign.
Fricke v. Lynch: Aaron Fricke successfully sues for permission to bring Paul Guillbert as his date to prom.
Marsha P. Johnson moves in with Randy Wicker.
Craig Rodwell attempts to convince the Christian Science church to change its position on homosexuality at their annual conference.
Dante Gill‘s massage parlor, the Tauren Models, burns down. Three men die in the blaze, which is ruled an arson.
May 31: Aaron Fricke and Paul Guillbert attend the Cumberland High School prom, escorted by members of the Gay Liberation Task Force.

Althea Garrison campaigns for a seat on the Boston city council.
The Christian Science church fires Chris Madsen.
Dante Gill‘s primary rival goes to prison for tax evasion.
May 18: Lawrence Mass publishes “Disease Rumors Largely Unfounded” in The New York Native newspaper.
June 5: The CDC publishes its first documentation of the disease that will become known as AIDS.

August Wilson publishes a play about Ma Rainey called Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Althea Garrison runs for the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
September 24: The CDC officially names Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (or AIDS).

The Dutch government posthumously awards Willem Arondeus with the Resistance Memorial Cross.

Dale Olson leaves Rogers & Cowans and begins his own firm, Dale C. Olson & Associates.
Althea Garrison runs for Boston City Council.
Dante Gill is convicted for tax fraud and conspiracy. He is named both “Dubious Man of the Year” and “Dubious Woman of the Year” by the Pittsburgh Press. He is sentenced to 13 years in prison, but a judge reduces the sentence to 10 years when Gill agrees to close three massage parlors in 24 hours.
July 21: Dale Olson releases a statement on behalf of his client, Rock Hudson, announcing that Hudson has inoperable liver cancer. However, Dale strongly believes Hudson can bring much needed attention to the AIDS crisis and encourages his client to do so.
July 25: Thanks largely to Dale Olson‘s encouragement, Rock Hudson’s French publicist releases a statement acknowledging that Rock Hudson has AIDS. The number of donations made to AIDS research through the rest of this year more than double those donated in the entirety of 1984.

Althea Garrison runs for Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Dung Hà is arrested for robbery. After twelve months in prison, she resumes a life of crime.
June 19: Israel recognizes Willem Arondeus as Righteous Among the Nations.

Althea Garrison runs for Boston City Council.
Stormé DeLarverie is the subject of the documentary Stormé: The Lady of the Jewel Box.
Dante Gill makes parole.