Killing Patient Zero

Overview

Set against the backdrop of the Stonewall riots and the burgeoning gay liberation movement, a tragic epidemic silently loomed, threatening to decimate a generation of gay men. Gaetan Dugas, a French-Canadian flight attendant, stepped forward to aid scientists investigating the origins of AIDS. However, a cascade of misfortunes led to him being scapegoated as Patient Zero, unfairly branded as the source of the outbreak. His story highlights both the societal neglect surrounding the crisis and the destructive power of stigma during a pivotal moment in history.