1980s: ACT-UP Protest and the Pink Triangle
During the mid to late 80s, the political group AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, commonly known as ACT-UP, sparked a wave of protests that demanded change and resisted against the current “dominator culture.” ACT-UP pioneered reform through advocacy, direct confrontation, and research. Arguably the most defining and memorable efforts of the ACT-UP were the aggressive physical demonstrations that carried such a strong ethos and fighting spirit (Aizeman, 2019). People weren’t just asking for change; they were clawing at it. There were accounts of people blocking traffic, using fake blood, and using their entire body to get their point across. It was truly the culmination of bodily expression (Aizeman, 2019).
Regarding this image specifically, the adoption of the pink triangle as a symbol of the movement was truly incredible. The design permeated into the protest signs, art, and especially the clothing.