The first service provided by the organization was the Hotline, which began in May as an answering machine in the apartment of volunteer, Rodger McFarlane, who later became the organization's second executive director. They decided to try to answer the many questions people had about the disease. While Showers was a success, the group realized that they could do more than simply raise money to help those affected.
The event was called Showers and $50,000 was raised. When the six met in January 1982, they discussed raising more funds for research and organized GMHC's first major event at the Paradise Garage on April 8.
Over $6,600 was raised at that meeting for research into Kaposi's sarcoma at New York University's Medical Center. Alvin Friedman-Kien discussed the "gay cancer" that was affecting their friends and lovers. They had all been part of an earlier gathering at Kramer's on August 11, 1981, where Dr. GMHC was founded by six gay men, Nathan Fain, Larry Kramer, Lawrence Mass, Paul Popham, Paul Rapoport, and Edmund White, at Kramer's Manhattan apartment on January 4, 1982. It is a volunteer-supported, community-based organization that provides programs to clients and members of the general public regardless of HIV status, gender, or sexual orientation. The Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), America's oldest AIDS organization, organized in 1982, serves to educate the public about HIV/AIDS, provide care services for People with AIDS (PWAs), and advocate at all levels of government for fair AIDS policies. The collection contains electronic records. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, and reports regarding GMHC's safe sex education programs and client services. The records document the three aspects of GMHC's activities and contain correspondence, memoranda, minutes, pamphlets, photographs, posters, questionnaires, reports, surveys, video recordings, and other material. The Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), America's oldest AIDS organization, formed in 1982, serves to educate the public about HIV/AIDS, provide care services for People with AIDS (PWAs), and advocate at all levels of government for fair AIDS policies. Restrictions apply Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online. Call number MssCol 1126 Physical description 169.68 linear feet (408 boxes, 3 oversized folders, 1 tube) 916 video files 221 audio files 14.18 megabytes (2,671 computer files) Language English Preferred Citation Gay Men's Health Crisis records, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library Repository Manuscripts and Archives Division Access to materials Request an in-person research appointment. (130) Mandate Magazine (130) Studio 1435 (128) Playgirl Magazine (111) All Man Magazine (97) Chuck Pixxx (96) HQ (93) Big Brother Brasil (87) Paparazzo (83) Bear Magazine (81) Catalina Video (77) Revista Homens (70) Colt Studios Group (68) All Worlds Video (63) Marco Studio (63) Stripper (63) Bang Bang Boys (54) Adam Gay Video XXX Showcase Magazine (52) Cityboy (52) Maxx Studio (51) Revista Sui Generis (50) The Bear (46) Alexander Pictures (45) Cantor (45) Terry Studio (44) Jet Set Men (43) R. Adam Gay Video XXX Showcase Magazine Vol.: 05 Nº.: 11Ītor Pornô (1401) Kristen Bjorn (293) G Magazine (284) Modelo (246) Ator (191) Advocate Men Magazine (167) Honcho Magazine (163) Desejo (158) Making Off (158) Torso Magazine (137) Gogoboy (135) Reality Show (134) Falcon Studios (131) B.Minissérie "O Reencontro" #09 - Segunda rodada.