Our latest “Document of the Week” was chosen by our Editor, Nishah Malik. This week we spotlight an AIDS awareness poster from February 1987. Produced by the Department of Health and Social Security, the poster reflects the British government’s efforts to combat misinformation and fear during the height of the AIDS epidemic.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, AIDS had emerged as a global health crisis. The disease had existed for decades, but cases were first reported in the U.S. in June 1981. Britain’s first case was reported in December 1981, when a 49-year-old man died from AIDS in London. By 1987, AIDS was declared a global epidemic.
The early years of the epidemic were marked by fear, misinformation, and stigma, with homosexual men facing societal neglect. Terms like the "gay plague", “gay cancer”, and “Gay-Related Immune Disorder” were widely used.
The 1980s were a transformative period for public health advocacy. In 1986, the British government introduced the “Don’t Die of Ignorance” campaign. This featured hard-hitting messages to educate the public on how HIV is transmitted and ways to prevent it.
This poster from 1987 exemplifies this effort, as it emphasises that AIDS is a problem “you cannot afford to ignore”. It directly addresses myths, clearly stating that AIDS cannot be spread through handshakes or shared cutlery, while promoting safe sex and needle safety.
As we observe LGBTQ+ History Month this February, this poster serves as a reminder of the impact AIDS had on the LGBTQ+ community during the epidemic. It serves as a reminder of how far we have come in terms of HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment.
Where to find this document
This poster is from our primary source collection, British Government Information and Propaganda, 1939–2009, which includes sources from the British Library. This collection contains material produced by the British Ministry of Information and Central Office of Information. The material covers a variety of topics, such as public health, education, social security, civil defence, race relations, sex discrimination, the environment, and Britain’s membership of the European Economic Community. Visit the collection page to learn more.
