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Alison Gertz

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Advocate

The Resume

    (circa 1966-August 8, 1992)
    Born in Manhattan, New York
    Resided in Manhattan, New York
    Was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988
    Advocated for AIDS awareness and safe sex practices
    Subject of the movie 'Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story' starring Molly Ringwald

Why she might be annoying:

    She experienced unexplainable health issues which resulted in two weeks of hospitalization, x-rays, and tests before she was diagnosed with HIV.
    She traced her infection with HIV to her first sexual experience at age 16, her partner being a bisexual bartender who later died of AIDS.
    It took doctors longer than usual to diagnose her with HIV due to the majority of HIV/AIDS patients being homosexual males, intravenous drug abusers and blood-transfusion recipients at the time.
    Some people found her diagnosis surprising not only because she did not fit the typical patient definition, but also because of her life of privilege and social prominence, despite her sexual behavior choices.
    During her illness and AIDS activism, her strong-willed personality was at times more of a disadvantage than an advantage to her.
    At the time of her death, she had not eaten for one week and had been unable to drink fluids for several days.
    She died as her parents' only child.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She survived being born six weeks premature.
    She saw her illness as an opportunity to educate people, especially adolescents, about HIV/AIDS misconceptions as well as safe sex practices and research funding needs.
    Her diagnosis disclosure and activism was considered a turning point in HIV/AIDS awareness due to the public's ignorance and misconceptions about the disease at the time.
    She was voted Woman of the Year by Esquire magazine, received the Secretary's Award for Excellence in Public Service, and was the subject of a movie about her life and activism.
    After her death, her three best friends co- founded the HIV/AIDS educational foundation Love Heals.
    She was fond of her pet dog and cats.

Credit: Pr31wnb


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 11 Votes: 9.09% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 82.35% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 113 Votes: 46.02% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 53 Votes: 49.06% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 25 Votes: 76.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 60 Votes: 51.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 86 Votes: 62.79% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 56 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 43.75% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 44 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 85 Votes: 65.88% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 42 Votes: 45.24% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 72 Votes: 37.50% Annoying