What could have been done to save the lives of many, including Freddie Mercury?
In short, acceptance.
As the movie 'Bohemian Rhapsody' ended and the lights turned on, my grandmother leaned over to me, and sadly whispered to me, "How sad. What a waste of a life." And, I couldn't help but feel slightly defensive, in regards to the legend that is Freddie Mercury. This man had achieved far more in his 45 years than any of us could dream of achieving in an entirely prolonged lifespan, and produced music and lyrics which are objectively some of the best and most well-known in the world. And yet, wasted? I would hardly call it that, especially when his death was no more his fault, than the fault of the society around him.
Freddie Mercury's death at the hands of AIDS was not a rare death. Though with the new and advanced treatments we have today, those diagnosed with AIDS are expected to have a near normal life expectancy, around 1 million people have died from the condition since the early 1980's when it was discovered. And sadly for Freddie Mercury, those in the LGBTQ+ community are specifically at a greater risk than others.
If you watch the film 'Bohemian Rhapsody', you will likely note the oft 'seediness' surrounding LGBTQ+ sexual relations. Gay bars, hidden corners, bathrooms in service stations... None of these places scream 'safe sex' to me, and that is likely what the movie is gearing watchers to believe. As LGBTQ+ people were forced to hide, that could mean that when they were able to find someone to engage with sexually, they weren't thinking about the possible complications of not undertaking in safe sex practices. And due to the hook-up culture and sneaky moments necessary to remain closeted, it wasn't likely that a lot of gay men were keeping in contact with all the people they had previously slept with.
So, was this life really wasted, as my grandmother put it? Of course not. But, if the stigma around LGBTQ+ people hadn't been so terrifying at the time, maybe communities would have been taught safe sex, instead of having to learn things for themselves in the heat of the moment, in a rest stop bathroom. Now, LGBTQ+ people still have stigma surrounding them, but at least we are all being taught safe sex, and there are treatments to help those who develop AIDS. As long as we appreciate those who came before us, and feel brave enough to be ourselves in the public eye, then we can definitely make Her Majesty proud.