When David Lawrence died in 1984, there were no city hall speeches or official commemorations, but his friends remembered. “He was a good person,” says Peggy Shinner, one such friend. “He liked cats, he liked to drink martinis; he liked to garden and he was a graphic artist. He died at 40.” He died of AIDS.
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“The theme of this project is that AIDS has a name,” says Shinner, coordinator of the Chicago NAMES chapter. “When you look at this panel, you don’t know whether David Lawrence was gay or straight. You just know that he was a human being who died at 40, and that was too young.
One recently made quilt is devoted to a man named Gary Ridley, who obviously loved music: the quilt is decorated with a large musical note. Another one reads: “Ron Sorkin, part of Chicago, part of us. We miss you. Love Ric, Tom, Jack, Ro, and John.” ln the background is Chicago’s skyline.
Because the majority of AIDS victims are gay men, many federal and state politicians have moved slowly to fund research and treatment programs. Although theirs is an attitude that must change, Shinner says, “We don’t push the political power of this movement. This is a memorial. But it’s more than just a memorial. It’s very emotional; it’s a knock in the head. I think it will have a powerful effect on anybody who sees it.
