Hold Tight Gently

The approval of protease inhibitors in December 1995 marked a significant turning point in the fight against AIDS, providing hope and treatment for many who had faced a grim prognosis. However, the drug arrived too late for numerous individuals, with over 318,000 deaths in the U.S. attributed to AIDS-related complications, including notable figures like singer Michael Callen and poet Essex Hemphill. This narrative highlights both the advancements in medical treatment and the profound losses experienced in the AIDS epidemic.