AHF Honors Patty Duke as ‘Heroic Advocate’ Who Spoke Out Against Prop. 64, Lyndon LaRouche & California AIDS Quarantine Ballot Measure

In News by AHF

The Academy Award-winning actress was the first public figure to speak out—and show up—to protests against California’s Prop 64, a ballot measure instigated by political activist and gadfly Lyndon LaRouche that could have required California to quarantine people with AIDS.

California voters soundly defeated the ballot measure by a margin of 71% to 29% in November 1986.

LOS ANGELES (March 29, 2016) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) the largest global AIDS organization, today mourns the passing of Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke, remembering her as an early and forceful advocate against discrimination toward people living with HIV/AIDS. Duke was among the first public figures to speak out—and show up—to protests against California’s Prop 64, a divisive 1986 ballot measure instigated by political activist and gadfly Lyndon LaRouche that could have required California to quarantine people with AIDS. California voters soundly defeated the ballot measure by a margin of 71% to 29% in November 1986.

Duke was the only celebrity to attend and speak at the first major public demonstration against the ballot measure in front of LaRouche headquarters in Los Angeles on September 15, 1986. One of the groups organizing the protest, the ‘Stop the AIDS Quarantine Committee,’ was instrumental in the defeat of Prop. 64 and later gave rise to the Los Angeles AIDS Hospice Committee. This eventually led to the creation of the AIDS Hospice Foundation, the predecessor organization to today’s AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).

“As a Brooklyn native and longtime AIDS advocate, I can assure you that–contrary to the theme song of her popular 1960s sitcom–Patty Duke saw well beyond the confines of someone who had ‘… only seen the sights a girl can see from Brooklyn Heights.’ By speaking out forcefully against Lyndon LaRouche and Proposition 64, Duke shared a worldview of compassion, tolerance and understanding and we are all the richer for it,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Duke recognized the injustice of LaRouche’s ill-conceived, fear-mongering ballot measure and had no qualms about speaking out publicly at the first big protest and rally, despite the tremendous fear and stigma around AIDS at the time, when there was little political will or leadership on the issue in this country. We honor and thank Patty Duke today as a heroic advocate and offer our sincere condolences to her family and friends.”

 

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