Thomas Mallon reflects on his late coming out as a gay man living in New York during the 1980s, juxtaposed against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis. He recalls the vibrant atmosphere of a packed gay bar amid the fear of AIDS, celebrating life while also mourning losses. Despite the tragedy, Mallon expresses a sense of gratitude for his timing in life and acknowledges the struggles of those who preceded him, capturing the complexity of joy and sorrow in this era.
"I had never seen the gay bar so packed... People were celebrating, forgetting about AIDS for a night - dancing vs. death, some of them probably going home to exchange more death."
"Other people have fought my battles... even with AIDS around I have to feel we're lucky. If I'd been born 20 years earlier my life might have been a miserable lie."
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