Alison Gertz
Encyclopedia
Alison Gertz was a prominent AIDS
activist in the late 1980s and early 1990s, who died from AIDS related complications in 1992.
from her first sexual encounter in 1982. She became an AIDS activist, appearing on numerous television
shows and also speaking with teenagers on the subject of safe sex
.
During Gertz' time as an activist, she was voted Woman of the Year by Esquire magazine
, received the Secretary's Award for Excellence in Public Service from the United States Department of Health and Human Services
, and a film
based on her life starring Molly Ringwald
was released.
Gertz died of complications arising from AIDS on August 8, 1992. She was 26 years old.
Alison Gertz was referred to in the song "Life Support" from the rock opera RENT
. At the beginning of the song, various members of the group say their names. Jonathan Larson used the names of his HIV-positive friends as the characters in this song. At the beginning of the song, the character who refers to herself as "Ali" was named after Gertz.
In 1989, Alison's foundation, Love Heals, along with Martin Himmel Health Foundation, hired Tony Schwartz to create public service announcements on AIDs awareness. The scripts and correspondence are housed at the Library of Congress in the Tony Schwartz Collection.
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
activist in the late 1980s and early 1990s, who died from AIDS related complications in 1992.
Biography
Gertz was first diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 and later found out that she had contracted HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
from her first sexual encounter in 1982. She became an AIDS activist, appearing on numerous television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
shows and also speaking with teenagers on the subject of safe sex
Safe sex
Safe sex is sexual activity engaged in by people who have taken precautions to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS. It is also referred to as safer sex or protected sex, while unsafe or unprotected sex is sexual activity engaged in without precautions...
.
During Gertz' time as an activist, she was voted Woman of the Year by Esquire magazine
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, received the Secretary's Award for Excellence in Public Service from the United States Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
, and a film
Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story
Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story is a 1992 television movie based on the life of a prominent AIDS activist Alison Gertz.-Plot summary:...
based on her life starring Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald
Molly Kathleen Ringwald is an American actress, singer and dancer. Having appeared in the John Hughes movies Sixteen Candles , The Breakfast Club , and Pretty in Pink , Ringwald has been frequently named the greatest teen star of all time...
was released.
Gertz died of complications arising from AIDS on August 8, 1992. She was 26 years old.
Alison Gertz was referred to in the song "Life Support" from the rock opera RENT
Rent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
. At the beginning of the song, various members of the group say their names. Jonathan Larson used the names of his HIV-positive friends as the characters in this song. At the beginning of the song, the character who refers to herself as "Ali" was named after Gertz.
In 1989, Alison's foundation, Love Heals, along with Martin Himmel Health Foundation, hired Tony Schwartz to create public service announcements on AIDs awareness. The scripts and correspondence are housed at the Library of Congress in the Tony Schwartz Collection.