15/02/2021
The left wing weekly Socialist Worker pulls no punches when it says that Russell T Davies’ new AIDS era drama for Channel Four, “It’s A Sin”, will have audiences crying and laughing. The paper, which supported the gay community when many other groups, even leftist ones, refused to during the pandemic, maintains that AIDS was a political crisis, made worse by the bigotry, stigma, homophobia and racism of the ruling elites, who in the 1980’s were personified by the Thatcher government and a highly politicised, anti-gay police force. Whilst arguing that the direct action and protests as depicted in the show were essential at changing attitudes, the paper also says that care has been taken by Davies to celebrate the youth, vigour and love of these young people, and notes that we should continue to share their stories, and acknowledge the lives cut short, but also enjoyed by people. With LGBT+ History Month taking place in February, it is a good time to make sure the era of AIDS and loss, but also survival, is kept alive for current generations.
