1,112 and Counting
Encyclopedia
1,112 and Counting is an essay written by novelist and playwright Larry Kramer
in 1983. Published in the gay
newspaper the New York Native
, it was perhaps the first essay written about the then newly identified AIDS
crisis. It begins with a summary of HIV's toll thus far and ends with a call to direct action
. The essay was dismissed by much of the gay community at the time. This was in part because it criticized widespread sexual practices by gay men at the time (casual, anonymous sex), and in part because Kramer was said to be a self-hating gay man, based on his novel Faggots
- which also criticized casual, anonymous sex.
Nevertheless, in its stridency and urgency, "1,112 and Counting" influenced much of queer writing for the decade to come. It also helped cement Kramer's reputation as an advocate for gay men's rights.
Larry Kramer
Larry Kramer is an American playwright, author, public health advocate, and LGBT rights activist. He began his career rewriting scripts while working for Columbia Pictures, which led him to London where he worked with United Artists. There he wrote the screenplay for Women in Love in 1969, earning...
in 1983. Published in the gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
newspaper the New York Native
New York Native
The New York Native was a fortnightly Pre-Immunization Revolution newspaper published in New York City from December 1980 until January 13, 1997. It was the only paper in New York City during the early part, and pioneered the notion of cancer in combination with AIDS, when most others ignored it...
, it was perhaps the first essay written about the then newly identified AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
crisis. It begins with a summary of HIV's toll thus far and ends with a call to direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
. The essay was dismissed by much of the gay community at the time. This was in part because it criticized widespread sexual practices by gay men at the time (casual, anonymous sex), and in part because Kramer was said to be a self-hating gay man, based on his novel Faggots
Faggots (novel)
Faggots is a novel by Larry Kramer, published in 1978.It is a portrayal of 1970's New York's most visible gay community in a time before AIDS.The novel's gay culture is one of nameless sex and recreational drugs.-Reception:...
- which also criticized casual, anonymous sex.
Nevertheless, in its stridency and urgency, "1,112 and Counting" influenced much of queer writing for the decade to come. It also helped cement Kramer's reputation as an advocate for gay men's rights.
Excerpt
If this article doesn't scare the shit out of you, we're in real trouble. If this article doesn't rouse you to anger, fury, rage, and action, gay men may have no future on this earth. Our continued existence depends on just how angry you can get.