The Journalist of Castro Street : The Life of Randy Shilts

As the acclaimed author of And the Band Played On , Randy Shilts became the country's most recognized voice on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. His success emerged from a relentless work ethic and strong belief in the power of journalism to help mainstream society understand not just the rising tide of HIV/AIDS but gay culture and liberation. In-depth and dramatic, Andrew E. Stoner's biography follows the remarkable life of the brash, pioneering journalist. Shilts's reporting on AIDS in San Francisco broke barriers even as other gay writers and activists ridiculed his overtures to the mainstream and labeled him a traitor to the movement, charges the combative Shilts forcefully answered. Behind the scenes, Shilts overcame career-threatening struggles with alcohol and substance abuse to achieve the notoriety he had always sought, while the HIV infection he had purposely kept hidden began to take his life. Filled with new insights and fascinating detail, The Journalist of Castro Street reveals the historic work and passionate humanity of the legendary investigative reporter and author. | Cover Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Aurora Dawn 2 Eugene Days 3 Living Out 4 Finding a Voice 5 The Life and Times 6 Becoming the AIDS Scribe Illustrations follow page 110 7 Bathhouse Daze 8 A Balancing Act for Shilts 9 Clean and Sober 10 Strike Up the Band 11 The Sum of Zero 12 Conduct Unbecoming 13 Disclosing HIV 14 Journalist versus Advocate 15 Unfinished Work Conclusion Notes Index| "Stoner has crafted an amazingly exhaustive biography of Shilts . . . Through interviews, oral histories, Shilts's own journals, and archival materials, Stoner provides a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Shilts, his work, his advocacy, and his legacy." — Journalism History "[ The Journalist of Castro Street ] is an important addition to the HIV/AIDS archive, particularly thanks to its careful discussion of political figures like Harvey Milk, George Moscone, Dan White, and Gaëtan Dugas." — Media History "A major contribution to gay history." — Booklist | Andrew E. Stoner is an associate professor of communication studies at California State University, Sacramento. His books include Campaign Crossroads: Presidential Politics in Indiana from Lincoln to Obama . "Randy Shilts is often named as the first openly gay reporter to earn a full-time reporting position for a major daily newspaper. He is regularly included in the ranks of America's most important journalists-turned-author, and his books, And the Band Played On and The Mayor of Castro Street, had a clear impact on America. Andrew Stoner reveals that, while Shilts's arrival at The San Francisco Chronicle did not make him the first gay reporter at a major daily, he did have a prolific and distinctive writing career matched by few. Shilts's focus on issues related to the role of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in society paved the way for a relentless drive to focus political, clinical and societal attention on the rising tide of HIV and AIDS. Reporter functions revealed by Shilts reveal a commitment to exerting a strong journalistic influence over society and media consumers to help further understanding and advancement of homosexual liberation while personal and professional interviews reveal Shilts's work as both a reporter and noted author were heavily influenced by his open attitudes about disclosure of his sexual orientation from the start of his career and his desire to explain or unpack aspects of gay culture, and ultimately the AIDS crisis, to heterosexual audiences. His personal transparency related to his sexuality, however, stood in marked contrast to his carefully constructed closet to conceal his own HIV infection. Stoner carefully examines the posthumous critique of Shilts's work, including a malevolent relationship existing between Shilts and other gay journalists, authors and leaders, particularly around his presentation of the so-called "Patient Zero" to explain the AIDS pandemic"-- Provided by publisher As the acclaimed author of And the Band Played On, Randy Shil ts (1951-1994) became the country's most recognized voice on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. His success emerged from a relentless work ethic and strong belief in the power of journalism to help mainstream society understand not just the rising tide of HIV/AIDS but gay culture and liberation. In-depth and dramatic, Andrew E. Stoner's biography follows the remarkable life of the brash, pioneering journalist. Shilts's reporting on AIDS in San Francisco broke barriers even as other gay writers and activists ridiculed his overtures to the mainstream and labeled him a traitor to the movement, charges the combative Shilts forcefully answered. Behind the scenes, Shilts overcame career-threatening struggles with alcohol and substance abuse to achieve the notoriety he had always sought, while the HIV infection he had purposely kept hidden began to take his life. Filled with new insights and fascinating detail, The Journalist of Castro Street reveals the historic work and passionate humanity of the legendary investigative reporter and author First-ever biography of controversial journalist and author Randy Shilts, one of the nation’s first openly gay reporters for a major daily newspaper. Known for his tenacity in reporting, he quickly became the “AIDS scribe” among American journalists. His work was not without controversy, however, with posthumous reviews of his “new journalism” techniques called into question, including the accuracy of some of his research. Review is provided of Shilts’s childhood struggles with physical abuse, his adult battles with alcohol and drug addiction, and his ultimate death from AIDS. The critical review of Shilts is most focused on his 1987 book, __And the Band Played On: Politics, People and the AIDS Epidemic__ – although his work on __The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk__ (1982) and __Conduct Unbecoming: Gays & Lesbians in the U.S. Military__ (1993) This is a biography of controversial journalist and author Randy Shilts, one of the nation's first openly gay reporters for a major daily newspaper. Known for his tenacity in reporting, he quickly became the 'AIDS scribe' among American journalists. His work was not without controversy, however, with posthumous reviews of his 'new journalism' techniques called into question, including the accuracy of some of his research. Review is provided of Shilts's childhood struggles with physical abuse, his adult battles with alcohol and drug addiction, and his ultimate death from AIDS