"Let's say that humanity was facing its greatest health crisis since the plague, and the leader of the free world refused to talk about it..." Me in 2020: screaming internally
If I had a nickel for every time humanity was facing its greatest health crisis since the plague and the leader of the free world refuaed to talk about it, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice
"Let's say that humanity was facing its greatest health crisis since the plague and that the leader of the free world refused to talk about it." I couldn't imagine such a thing.
This is incredible! I'm a college professor who teaches a course on HIV/AIDS and Media Representations, and I'm going to include this in my syllabus when I show this particular episode next time!
As a 51 year old living with undetectable HIV, since 1996, who has lost many friends, your words about judgmentalists hurt, because they are true. Thank you for just being blunt about the reality of hateful people. We need people like you to keep our memories alive, as we start to fade from almost regular old age.
I Don’t Have Any Friends, That Are Alive Today, From That Time. I Had A Lot Of Friends, For Years, And They’re All Gone Now. I’m 64 Now, And Just Lost My X, December 17Th. He Was The Last To Go In My World. I Say, Ya Can’t Keep A Good Queen Down…🌷💛🌷💛🌷
@@geraldsmith7240 I don't know if it applies, or you would feel it helpful, but I joined a couple gay widowers groups on FB when my first husband died, and that really helped. My current husband survived his ex's suicide after he had over come cancer, because my husband didn't want to get back together. The sick bastard sent him a bouquet of flowers for Valentine's Day, before swallowing a handful of pills. We all have lives and stories to tell. Tell yours, if you feel it. Be well.
+M.E. To be fair though, they are happening much less. Gen X parents at least more often have a clue compared to Boomers (obviously speaking in very general terms), and more Gen Y parents are at least sex-ed neutral.
Malcolm Swoboda Well I agree there is more awareness of the importance of sexual health. However, it is important to note the quality of sexual health conversations/education. There are whole generation y's out there who were not taught quality sex health thanks to over a decade of abstinence only education. A few parents fill the gaps but with growing STD rates I'd surmise this education has created significant damage.
My mother gave me a PAINFULLY detailed sex talk and it did NOT have me skipping off to the pharmacy to pick condoms. I wasn’t ready-and learning new information didn’t change that. Meanwhile, a classmate of mine found herself *ahem* with child because she thought you could prevent pregnancy by peeing after intercourse! Watching your videos is the smartest decision I’ve made all day! Thank you!
I have never understood parents who think that their kids aren’t going to experiment with sex, alcohol, etc. No matter how they are raised, they are more influenced by their peers at that age. It’s better to teach them to be safe with such behaviors. I was raised as a Fundamental Baptist yet still made out with guys, drank at parties and occasionally smoked marijuana. My mom would have killed me, but it’s what my friends were doing. I remembered that when it came to giving my own daughter advice and told her about condoms, never riding with a drunk or stoned driver and that she could call me no matter what and I would come get her. I used to say “if you’re gonna be stupid, be smart about it”. She’s an adult now and tells me that really was helpful advice. She has made great decisions and is now a successful professional.
The funny part is, many of those speeches are ones Dixie Carter didn't especially want to give, Being more conservative than the woman who wrote her. She made a deal with Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that for every such speech that Julia gave, Dixie Carter got to sing in an episode.
But I am sure this was not one of them. Dixie, for her conservative leanings, was well-known for her support of the gay community, acknowledged & appreciated the show's gay following.
You should do a video about the Golden Girls episode titled "72 Hours". I felt exactly like Rose did the first time I was tested because my name was given as a contact by a guy I had sex with who either didn't know at the time or just didn't tell me he was HIV+. back then I did have to wait 3 days. it was a horrible experience. and it taught me some valuable lessons.
It was a terribly tense, frightening, anxious time for me. I was lucky to have a co-worker to confide in and to go to the doctor with me. she was the only one I confided in. thanks for responding to me Matt. appreciate it.
@@hairychest7865 I had my first HIV test in '91 (El Paso, TX). Rose thought it was painful waiting 3 whole days? Try 2 WEEKS! When they told me that, for some "unknown reason", I went home with the worst headache.
Dear Matt... I can’t thank you enough for doing this episode. I remember it like it was yesterday when I first saw it as a freshman cadet at the US Naval Academy. I watched it in secret, of course, with the guy who would become my boyfriend and the love of my life. We watched it with nervous laughter because we too were only just beginning to come out to ourselves. I thank God we had each other for love and support. Even though my partner died many years ago, you brought back sweet and scary times that are such a monumentally important part of my past. Thank you, Matt. God Bless you 😘
I remember when the “God’s punishment” argument used to be mainstream. ☹️ It’s nice that our society has evolved enough for that view to now be seen as cartoonishly evil. My dad first explained what gay meant to me when he was watching the news and there was a story about a mysterious “gay cancer”. Now RU-vid recommended this video to me because I recently searched for that news clip. I think my parents watched Designing Women but I didn’t remember that episode. So thanks for mentioning it.
I didn't know that Designing Women was a sitcom, much less a sitcom that was brave enough to tackle the topic of AIDS. Good for them for being forthright and unafraid to stand up what was right. I don't think I've seen more than one show address the AIDS crisis; the only one that comes to mind is The Golden Girls, when Rose is afraid she contracted it after finding out a blood transfusion she once had was potentially infected. Definitely going to give this episode a viewing some time this weekend. It's utterly shocking how relevant it still is...
I remember this episode when it first aired -- it was 1987. I was 12 years old and seriously remember the scare tactics we were being educated with regarding anything to do with AIDS. Honestly, this episode was a true education that we needed about AIDS -- not the scare tactics but the truth. I remember being taught either abstinence or death with regards to sex. But because my mom was (still is) a Jehovah's Witness, I was also taught that AIDS was just another show of why God was against blood transfusions. TV saved me from a lot of brain washing. It's odd that shows based in fiction taught so much truth. And it's weird to say that TV educated me instead of brainwashed me. *Shrugs* Murphy Brown was another show that I also learned a lot from, regarding current affairs of the time.
“Let’s say humanity was facing its greatest health crisis since the plague and the leader of the free world refused to talk about it...” 2020: Ouch, right in the COVID mask.
I remember watching this episode the night it originally aired. It was right after I came out and I was terrified about the pandemic. It did help educate but it was scary to an 18 y/o who only had sex once and didn't have sex again until 1991! It wasn't this show that did it I was extremely picky!
One of my favorite episodes! The only one I enjoyed more was when Julia gave her "..night the lights went out in Georgie" speech... which, admittedly, wasn't quite as socially significant. :)
sparkers70 sparkers70 Julia gave a scathing speech in just about every episode...the self-confessed loud-mouthed liberal....& I LOVED EVERY WORD THAT EVER CAME OUT OF HER MOUTH!!! ❤️
When I've explained AIDS in the 1980's, my 18 year old daughter ihas been flabbergasted. She has a hard time understanding the political and social climate. She has to see this!
Thank you for the reminder of what a service Designing Women did or us. I didn’t know the backstory about Linda Bloodwort Thompson’s mother dying of AIDS; so sad.
The first American show with a main character (not a one off episode) with AIDS was "General Hospital!" This might not fit into the larger discussion about queerness in media (both the main characters in this case were straight) but I do think it's an interesting bit of pop culture history and you might like to check it out. (For more information, the characters were Stone and Robin)
This was a defining moment in my childhood. It didn't take away the fear of death and loneliness that I felt was looming ahead of me (because of all the other media dealing with AIDs and gay people), but it helped a little. I just thought, "if I can meet some crazy gals like the Designing Women once I'm grown and out, maybe I can be happy..." Luckily, I did.
In the mid 80's Showtime aired a sitcom for 3 or 4 seasons titled "Brothers" which I believe was the first American sitcom in which two of the major characters were openly gay. It was full of gay stereotypes and jokes but it was groundbreaking in so many ways, including the first television series to address the AIDS epidemic amid the panic typical of the period. I would love to see someone do a bit of coverage about it, and give it the credit it deserves. REPLY
Only thing that is similar is the four lead women setup. Golden girls four middle aged to older women living in the same house comically sharing stories and shade, designing women four women who are partners in a business and discuss the issues of their days and social topics and have a male and black point of view from its only male lead, each had different approaches to comedy.
Designing Women was one of my favorite shows and YES, it tackled many subjects that were not being dealt with by other shows and even the media. It could be hilariously funny , dramatic and heartbreaking all in the same episode - quite a feat for any show reminded me of Norman Lear's shows 'All In The Family' & 'Maude' as well as M*A*S*H and the Golden Girls who also took on very controversial and largely ignored subjects. Thank You, Matt for reminding me what a great show this was, it is a pity that the people making entertainment today seem to have so little interest in making great content like this anymore.
You knocked this one out of the park, bro! I haven't ever really taken designing women that seriously before. I believe golden girls just overshadows it a lot! Lol... Though now I feel I need to reconsider watching it. I love what you had to say about hiv and how it was and still is viewed to this day. Keep the commentaries coming man! ☺ 😊 😀 😁 Best, Marvin
Thank you for all your insicive videos. They are very important and should be required viewing for all high school age kids. I especially.loved the Designing Women.episode where the women discuss HIV/AIDS and prevention of transmission of the virus via correct condom usage. Bravo, Designing Women.
Things really haven't changed where I grew up (St. Louis, Missouri). In public school in 2014 we were still being taught abstinence only; absolutely nothing was said about safe sex. But I guess it was all kind of moot, since me and everyone I know had already learned about safe sex from the internet (which isn't really the best place to get information, but it is sure better than nothing). Personally, I think "abstinence" it is just a cop out; by just saying "don't have sex" they are avoiding the issue entirely.
We had sex ed on the curriculum about every two years starting in 4th grade (development of babys in the womb etc) and then later of course safe sex etc, by then most people already knew cause of the media, but it was still mandatory in school to teach. But you can't compare that to the US, where they still teach abstinence in so many schools (I'm from Germany)
It truly depends on the people who are in office (no separation of church and state when it comes to this topic). I didn’t say that is fair either - you really have to “luck” upon a progressive teacher in order to have a non-biased form of the truth, so you can develop your own opinion about the subject. I have been a fan of Designing Women since its creation in the 80’s. I have truly admired how well written and acted the program is - such a breath of fresh air, even in 2018! Thank goodness for RU-vid!!
I think abstinence has a place for those who don’t want to have sex till they’re older or with the right person. I was one of those. The extreme pressure to have sex while in high school is also a problem. I’ve been with a wonderful partner for 23 years now and it was worth the wait. That said, I do understand waiting may not be for everyone and I’m glad sex education is more easily available now. I just don’t want people to make “waiting” sound like a bad or weird idea.
Not gay, not homophobic, not even that young...just someone who never knew about these shows and how they bridged a gap before my time. I love these videos and thank you for informing us on what was then and sometimes sadly now xx
Golden Girls also tackled the AIDS issues, if I recall correctly. I watched it when I was a teenager, and it stuck with me. It had a little bit of a cop-out ending, but still had some good conversations about the epidemic.
Interesting. I find it weird that there's so much pressure on people to HAVE sex, as if you are abnormal or deficient somehow. Yes, some people have sex as soon as their equipment works, others aren't ready for years. Either should be accepted.
I've never felt pressured to have sex, frankly. Maybe I'm just hideous. Maybe I'm just secure enough in myself that I don't feel like sex will fill some void. But either way, there's no one inquiring after your sex life, it's a perfectly acceptable thing to not talk about. Studies have also shown that 1. Young people today have less sex and 2. People believe that others are having more sex than they really are.
Honestly I think there's a correlation between modern acceptance of different sexualities and gender identities, AND also the rising awareness of consent and sexual abuse, with young people having less sex - because more of us are really choosing when and if we have sex compared to previous generations.
I miss getting to watch Designing Women when they had new episodes. Suzanne Sugarbaker was our teacher on how to handle the idiots of the world. Her sass could handle any situation.
I like the Morris t-shirt. This episode of Designing Women was soooooo very good, especially Julia's speech to her client!! Thank you for this wonderful video.😊
This show is a favorite! There are no words to express how important and impactful that episode was. These ladies were just as down-to-business on tough, sensitive issues as The Golden Girls but always seemed to do it with more fervor and insistence.
+Sterling Ross Hooboy, that's a very tough episode! Good, but pretty challenging as sitcoms of the 80s go. But yes, you're right -- definitely worth looking into.
I remember all too well when this episode aired. I was in my early 20’s, was exploring what being gay meant to me, and had to deal with the smack in the face of HIV. It was frighteningly noticeable as the disease started picking up speed. The gay nightclubs weren’t as crowded as they once were. At one point, I began dating a rather handsome, taller guy who wore sexy eyeglasses, and a slight beard. He was a bit older than me, which I liked. Then on the 3rd date, he broke my heart a little. He admitted he was HIV +, and was being treated for AIDS. I was shocked, but told him it didn’t bother me. We continued to date. He started looking for a house to rent that would be more convenient for us both. I told some coworkers I was dating someone who was living with HIV. These other gay men thought I was playing with fire. I said if Steven had some other disease, I wouldn’t break up with him, it shouldn’t matter either way. But Steven thought after a few more months, he didn’t want to hurt me. I had dealt with another boyfriend passing away, non HIV, a few years before. So that was it. About a year later I noticed his name in the obituaries. I wasn’t surprised. I went to the viewing. And felt very alone. A friend of Steven’s from out of town approached me. He knew who I was and was very kind to me the rest of the evening. As I left Steven’s mother asked me to wait, she returned with an envelope. It was a picture Steven asked his mother to give me if she saw me. I still have it. Today, I’m lucky enough to say, I’m married, and I’ve been with my husband 31 years. I never thought I’d find somebody like Matt. He loves me more than I ever thought possible. A few years ago we went through the same thing of having a nurse reject me in a hospital. I had a cancer diagnosis, and was in intensive care for almost 2 months after surgery. During my stay a young, new nurse was assigned to me. After meeting Matt and I, she never returned to my room even though I was her patient. After 3 days Matt and I figured out what was happening. Hospital administrators were very nervous. We never saw this girl again. I doubt it, but I hope she was fired. Sometimes I miss all the talented, handsome, funny guys that were lost back then. It all seems like such a waste.
I love this episode of Designing Women! It be great if you revisit this episode/topic in a longer video. There was so many good parts, like the rest of Jo Ann's speech at the PTA meeting.
Wow. I remember that episode, and the time. I would have thought it would have dated so much worse than that. It makes me kind of sad, but also kind of proud of those who kept fighting the good fight in the hostile times of the 80's.
"Let's say that humanity was facing its greatest health crisis since the plague, and the leader of the free world refused to talk about it. Where could Americans turn for the frank truth about their very survival?" Haaaaah. Imagine something that crazy happening twice.
Great video *Matt* , I was a teen when this was on. I loved *Designing Women* , and remember watching this episode. I remember how I learned more from this show about HIV than what was taught in school, I was just starting to understand that I might be gay and there was very little (to none) information about this subject as well as any gay characters on TV. Nothing like in later years, and this story line was a major moment for me as a young teen.
There's an episode of Mr Belvedere where a kid in Wesley's class has AIDS and is shunned by everyone yet Wesley sticks up for him. That might be a good one to spotlight.
So true. I learned more about AIDS and STI/STDs from TV comics & shows.... Designing Women this episode, Golden Girls, Three's Company...Seinfeld, Will & Grace, Queer as Folk (American version)
While I don't abdicate for abstinence education as being the only option to prevent stds, I DO think it needs to be OKAY for someone to choose to not have sex until they are married. It needs to be a choice, and people are respected for the choices they make.
I love me some Designing women, it was a great social issue comedy that tackled topics while having comedic moments that still make you laugh out loud.
It mostly changed around with the father "Al Bundy" who at one point was pretty homophobic (but making homophobes look pretty silly) and at one point acting like it is no big deal at all ("So we are two men who don't want to touch my wife.") It has quite a number of seasons and I could look up the episodes with a gay reference if this helps you.
I second this!! That would be a great episode! And yes as Amanda Bearse (who is queer) moved up from just an actor to, eventually, some kind of consulting producer, the show definitely shifted in tone in that regard, taking Al from something of a depressed Archie Bunker to a more benign schlub whose characterization was something like "Geez, I'm an asshole, not a bigot!"
What was really interesting about Married with Children was at the time while it was public knowledge that Amanda Bearse (Marcy) was gay, there was an episode and where she played Marcy's cousin Mandy in a dual role who is to Al's shock is revealed to be gay and allowed her to her own personal life through said characters. The fact that she played a character where the running gag was she was often mistaken from a man yet was a sex crazed character towards her husband.
I come from a very old Puritan family, mayflower old, and When I was younger I had a cousin who was gay named Richard. He came out to his family when I was about 6/7 and there response? Send him to a conversion camp! He ended up killing himself that night, and I remember at the funeral, no one crying or showing remorse of any kind. I mean he’s dead in his early 20’s and not one person cried because “he did what he had to, so he could be back in gods grace.” At one point I got up to my cousin William, and started hitting his leg “6/7 years old” and trying to make him cry, to feel something for Richards death! But nothing, so I cried for him instead, and I still mourn him
I got the abstinence message from my parents and church, and chose to remain a virgin until I got married, because it's what I believe in. I'm still glad my school had a thorough sex ed program, though, because not everyone believes the same things I do, and people have a right to chose their own values. Parents who want abstinence-only sex ed are just relying on schools to teach morals to their children, and that's lazy parenting.
Melissa Jansen - YES! Yet another point that so many who push abstinence-only forget: as young people, we are capable of learning one viewpoint in school and another one at home. If parents are doing their job at home presenting the rationale of their viewpoint, they shouldn't be so scared to death of other viewpoints being presented at school. I was taught a secular view of evolution at school and provided comprehensive sex ed, and neither one kept me from hanging on to what I was taught in the areas where that made sense to me.
"Ima Jean, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to move your car ... because _you're leaving!_" Dixie Carter landed the scene like a bomb, and you wonder if the man in the sound booth still has ringing ears. Tony Goldwyn played Kendall; he was also in _Longtime Companion_ and was the bad guy in _Ghost_.
I remember Bill Nye talking about AIDS. I was young enough at the time that I hadn't picked up any of the negative stereotypes, so I didn't understand why it was such a big deal, but even that far on, I'm sure it was a pretty pointed thing to include that segment.
I was teenager when AIDS first become known as Rock Hudson came out about it. TV shows and movies were not ready for it until As the World Turns in a first gay character with AIDS on daytime followed by Designing Women and Golden Girls. An Early Frost with Aidan Quinn and Longtime Companion shortly after. AMC and DAYS also did an episode on AIDS with GH having a primary character leading to the annual Nurses' Ball.
Sadly people *still* don't know half this information. I still have arguments with people about kissing, old dried up blood etc. People just don't know.
That Bristol Palin video actually has "The Situation" advocate for condoms and try to give some to her, so it's not abstinence only... Point still stands, there are abstinence only videos out there and they are generally awful.
You have great video's. That episode was so sad. I remember watching it out here on the Prairies. But it did make my Mum and Dad ask me if I was being safe.
Ahhhh geez. So sorry about that, that sucks. Can you let me know what URL the ad sends you to? The only way for me to block them is if people report the URL to me.
Matt Baume Not your fault! Here's where it sent me www.prageru.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwgYPZBRBoEiwA2XeupXnbPte02VHDlVAe9zJjBSu0Lgwvckex-2t2Mq5owdCmL-50ZRZrqxoCPS8QAvD_BwE
When Matt opened this vid referencing a great health crisis and the prez not taking it seriously I immediately paused to check the date it was uploaded. The more things change, the more they do stay the same.
It’s was easier for them to ignore HIV/AIDS because of who it was primarily killing in the early days. Gay men. It wasn’t until it started showing up in other groups that more people started to take it seriously.
@@darth_kal-el Eventually we saw a great deal of understanding and support. I think that was directly a result of people finally see us as people and not a labeled, misunderstood part of society.
