Soap Operas and AIDS: From Tragedies to Triumph
By Jamey Giddens on December 01, 2010
Stone Dies of AIDS on General Hospital, 1995
No soap ingenue has faced more adversity than Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough) of Port Charles, New York. First her parents were presumed dead while trying to take down international terrorist Caesar Faison, then Stone Cates (Michael Sutton), the beautiful young man who proved to be her first love, died from complications of AIDS in 1995. Although Stone unwittingly passed on HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to Robin, her story has not only been one of tragedy. Thanks to help of two brilliant physicians at General Hospital, the late Drs. Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon) and Tony Jones (Brad Maule), Robin sought treatment, including an extensive drug cocktail, that not only allowed her to survive, but thrive. With all the strides that have been made in the fight against HIV and AIDS, GH has provided sort of a fictional time capusule via Robin's saga and for that the soap should be commended.
Stone Dies of AIDS on General Hospital, 1995
No soap ingenue has faced more adversity than Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough) of Port Charles, New York. First her parents were presumed dead while trying to take down international terrorist Caesar Faison, then Stone Cates (Michael Sutton), the beautiful young man who proved to be her first love, died from complications of AIDS in 1995. Although Stone unwittingly passed on HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to Robin, her story has not only been one of tragedy. Thanks to help of two brilliant physicians at General Hospital, the late Drs. Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon) and Tony Jones (Brad Maule), Robin sought treatment, including an extensive drug cocktail, that not only allowed her to survive, but thrive. With all the strides that have been made in the fight against HIV and AIDS, GH has provided sort of a fictional time capusule via Robin's saga and for that the soap should be commended.
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Comments
4 May 2009
1 hour 29 min
Thank you to Claire Labine and Wendy Riche for the GH story.
Thank you to Agnes Nixon for the AMC story.
Thank you to Bill Bell for the Y&R stories (Jessica - Cricket's mom & the story with Nathan and....can't remember her name)
Thank you to Douglas Marland for the ATWT story with Margo.
Thank you to Thom Racina for AW's story with Dawn.
16 March 2008
23 min 24 sec
Jamey, you got me crying over here at work watching these clips. Ryan-Scott, I couldn't said it better. It points out why stories are not what they use to be. Bill and Douglas are no longer with us, Agnes is not writing regularly, and no one has the God-given sense to hire Claire Labine as their Head Writer. Good times!
31 January 2010
12 hours 12 min
Sorry, Jamey, but I'm only with you in part on this issue. There have indeed been some very admirable aspects of daytime soaps' treatment of the AIDS crisis. But I believe it's essential to note the repeated avoidance of any storyline focusing on a gay male character with AIDS.
This avoidance was especially shameful because it occurred even as gay men from within the daytime soap industry--some who were seen on the air, some who worked behind the camera--were dying of AIDS. In my view, these men were betrayed by their own industry, which didn't have the courage and integrity to treat THEIR deaths as important.
(NOTE: edited because when I wrote this I left out the crucial word "gay" at the end of the first paragraph.)
12 February 2010
4 days 12 hours
Ryan Scott, it was Keesha and Nathan. I think she was also involved with Malcolm..............
We all owe a debt of gratitude to the GRAND DAMES of soaps who had the courage, skill and understanding to craft these timelessly relevant stories.
We all probably know someone who has had this horrible disease, and I hope and pray that a cure is found soon!!!
10 February 2009
18 hours 57 min
LUZA, LUZA, LUZA, how low will you go?
I used to really appreciate GH's awesome efforts to commemorate World Aids Day.
What did we get today?: NOTHING, NADA, NIENTE, NIKS.
Would it have been so hard to let Robin light a candle in honor of everyone surviving with or who succmubed to the disease?
I have never hated Robert Guza Jr., THE LUZA, as much as I do this day. GO TO HELL, LUZA
4 May 2009
1 hour 29 min
Keesha! Yes Alstonboy!
Thanks! It was on the tip of my tongue.
30 October 2008
3 weeks 3 days
Three things:
1.) Who the F*ck would kill off Stuart!?!
2.) Rev. Andrew Carpenter had my cryin' over here ya'll! And dang was Ryan P. awesome in this storyline.
3.) Thanks for posting!! These stories were amazing!
4 May 2009
1 hour 29 min
Oh God! I forgot about OLTL! Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you Michael Malone & Linda Gottlieb.
When they shot on location and had pieces of the quilt....gives me chills just thinking about it.
As for Stuart, Chuck Pratt killed him using Adam. Don't ask how or why.
Suffice to say it was 24 carat Grade A CRAP.
22 August 2008
2 years 23 weeks
On ATWT, Hank's mostly offscreen boyfriend Charles had AIDS in the 1988-89 time period too. Hank's struggles to see and help make healthcare choices for his partner over the objections of his family were an integral part of the storyline, and an issue LGBT couples still face today. I don't know why Hank Eliot is always forgotten as the first on-going, integrated, significant LGBT character on soaps.