By the mid-1980s, the epidemic had taken hold in Darlinghurst. Fear was rising, homophobia was intensifying, and uncertainty shaped everyday life. Who had the virus? What did a positive test mean? And could the state be trusted with that information?

In this episode, historian Leigh Boucher moves into the heart of the crisis as the neighbourhood marshals every last drop of queer energy, love, creativity and strength to hold back the tide. Safe sex campaigns and innovative health responses proliferate – in bars, on dance floors and among squat racks.

For Peter Vincent and his friends, the party is far from over, even as they face the stark reality of a disease without a cure and the homophobic judgment beyond the gaybourhood. This is Darlinghurst – dancing as fast as it can.

Voices

Narrator: Regina Botros

Historian: Leigh Boucher

Interviewees: Bill Patterson, Lizzie Griggs, Frank McCabe, Tim Vincent, Pierre Touma, Bruce Carter, Scott Petrie and Sara Lubowitz.

Archive voice actors: Sam David Harris and Michael J Ryan.

Radio news and current affairs archive from Gaywaves, 2SER.

Credits

This special History Lab Original series was created on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.

Produced, written and narrated by Regina Botros, in collaboration with Macquarie University historian Leigh Boucher.

Story development by Leigh Boucher and Michelle Ransom-Hughes.

Interviews by Leigh Boucher.

Research assistance from Eli Branagh.

Story and script editing by Sarah Gilbert.

History Lab is a UTS Impact Studios production, in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Public History at UTS.

Support

This podcast was made with the support of the support of the Paul Ramsay Foundation and is part of the Foundation's Darlinghurst Public History Initiative, a collaboration with UTS' Australian Centre for Public History and Impact Studios.

Thanks to Macquarie University for its support of this series.

A special thanks goes to the staff and management of City Gym, the Albion Centre and ACON's Needle and Syringe Program for their generous hospitality.