Noaks Ark and Positiva Gruppen
In the early 1980s, the first reports of AIDS emerged.
In the early 1980s, the first reports of AIDS emerged. The disease was labelled the "gay plague" because it was associated with male homosexuality. Voluntary organizations were formed to help HIV-positive and AIDS patients. Here on Baltzarsgatan in 1987, Noaks Ark set up its first premises. An informal organisation, Positiva Gruppen, developed here too, when "18 HIV-positive boys met and ate pea soup with punch". In 1989, Positiva Gruppen (PG-Syd) moved to Södergatan and became an official association. Per-Olof Persson, or Peo as he was known, served as chairman from 1989 to 1993, and made an especially significant impact through his hard work and personality. He died in 1995 at just 33 years old, but his life and influence is commemorated in a scholarship that continues to be awarded annully. The stigma and trauma around AIDS in Sweden is perhaps most memorably described in Jonas Gardell's novel trilogy Torka aldrig tårar utan handskar (Don t Ever Wipe Tears without Gloves). Foto: Malmö Stadsarkiv Text adapted from: A Ride to Pride en kartguide till Malmös hbtqi-historia, Malmö Stadsarkiv
Snabbfakta
- Årtal: 1989
- Historisk plats ur Be Here Then
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