1983-03-14 Larry Kramer's "1,112 and Counting" published

Larry Kramer publishes his essay, “1,112 and Counting,” in The New York Native. Writing about the AIDS epidemic while it was still in its early stages, he told readers: “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.”

1983-06-14 A member of President Reagan's cabinet speaks out on AIDS.

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Denver, Colorado, Secretary of Health and Human Services Margaret Heckler became the first member of Ronald Reagan’s Cabinet to deliver a speech on AIDS. In her speech, she acknowledged “the excellent work done by gay networks around the nation.”

1983-07-20 Gerry Studds censured by U.S. House of Representatives

Gerry Studds, a Democrat from Massachusetts, is censured by the House of Representatives because of a consensual sexual relationship with a House page. Studds, who was the first member of Congress to openly acknowledge being gay, was re-elected by his district and served several more terms in Congress.