Comedian and LGBT advocate Margaret Cho
argues that the AIDS crisis helped the LGBT community grow up
politically.
Appearing on PoliticKING,
Cho told host Larry King that today's marriage equality victory is
rooted in AIDS activism.
“I grew up in a time when we were
really talking about AIDS,” Cho said. “I think that's where the
LGBT community really grew up politically, is looking for a way to
make people understand AIDS as a disease and a crisis.”
“And so that was where I think we
found a language and kind of ground grassroots support that we got
and finally everyone was organized enough to work towards marriage
equality.”
“I think the basis of gay politics
really began with AIDS and trying to understand and get people to
understand the disease,” she added.
Cho also credited former San Francisco
Mayor Gavin Newsom with leading on the issue.
“He was the one who first started
marrying gay couples in City Hall in 2004,” she said.