Splaine: Thinking about 'Philadelphia,' the movie, and friends lost to AIDS

At least once a year I watch my VHS copy of the 1993 movie "Philadelphia." I saw it a couple of weeks ago during a rainy night after a hot day working at my job. I can relate with several of the characters who remind me of people I have loved in my past. The storyline lets me cherish those friendships and remember those I lost to the tragedy of AIDS.

"Philadelphia" is about a virus that for too long our government ignored. Actor Tom Hanks portrays an attorney who is fired by the prestigious law firm he works for when it's discovered he is gay and HIV positive. He sues the firm's partners for discrimination and hires Denzel Washington's character, an initially homophobic ambulance-chasing lawyer. In time, homophobia fades. Philadelphia (1993) - IMDb

The movie plot is much more than just courtroom drama; it goes to the core of the ignorance of people who don't seek to appreciate the diversity of their neighbors, or who hate and judge without trying to understand others. On the screen, we get a glimpse of the personalities of the central characters, and as viewers we are able to substitute people we know and love for those in the movie. In that way, it can be especially meaningful to watch. And in that way, I always find myself crying at the end as some painful memories are recalled. 

I think anyone could benefit from watching "Philadelphia," especially in this time of added attention and concern about pandemics and viruses. COVID-19 is still with us:  one million deaths recorded this year worldwide, with about 100,000 new cases and almost 500 deaths per day in the United States.  A new vaccine booster will be available soon, and medical professionals tell us that vaccinations, along with better treatments, help keep COVID-19 death rates down. The virus will be with us for some time. 

HIV is also still with us. World AIDS Day, which is Dec. 1 of every year, is a time to bring awareness to HIV and other pandemics. The theme of World AIDS Day 2021 was "End inequalities. End AIDS.  End pandemics." If governments the world over, including our own, had dealt with AIDS honestly and openly in the early 1980s when enough was known about it to stop it, millions of lives would have been saved.

In the early 1990s, I was president of AIDS Response Seacoast. In our retreat we came up with our mission: "To Be Out of Business by Year 2000."  We missed that objective, and the fight continues. Today, 38 million people worldwide are living with HIV, 1.2 million in our country. It, too, likely will be with us for some time.

As a world and a nation, we have learned to take pandemics more seriously, and to act sooner. But the major problems have been getting accurate information to the public and having a public knowledgeable enough to act on the advice of qualified medical professionals. With social media, anyone can pass on misinformation to those wanting to read it, who then pass it on to others. Rumors and ignorance spread as fast as viruses.

As we face future pandemics, and we will, we need more people like Anthony Fauci, who fought HIV years ago just as he has fought COVID-19. We need people like him who will fight discrimination, ignorance and misinformation.

We need more people like Kim McNamara, Portsmouth's health officer, who courageously led efforts informing our residents about COVID-19 and took much abuse for her advice on wearing masks and the need for social distancing at the beginnings of the pandemic here.

We need more teaching in our schools about how viruses get their start and spread.  Investing in science for all our schools makes sense and saves lives.

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We need more organizations like Seacoast Outright, which reaches out to schools to fight against discrimination and promote resources for our LGBTQ+ young people and families. Because it is with information and better understanding that we promote equality and acceptance.

"Philadelphia" reminds us that hate and discrimination are wrong. Yes, it's only a movie.

But it's more.

Today's quote: "Every problem has a solution." — Andrew Beckett, Tom Hanks' character.

Next time: This Election Day, thank your poll workers.

Jim Splaine has served variously since 1969 as Portsmouth assistant mayor, Police Commission member, and School Board member, as well as New Hampshire state senator and representative.  He can be reached at jimsplaineportsmouth@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Splaine: Thinking about 'Philadelphia,' and friends lost to AIDS