Therese Frare - The Photo That Changed the Face of AIDS

Born: 1958, U.S.A.

Therese Frare is a photojournalist whose powerful image of David Kirby’s death became an iconic symbol of the human cost of AIDS.

Extraordinary acts of compassion occur every day, but if no one bears witness, can they shift the world’s conscience? It takes courage to give a human face to suffering, to reach toward people others choose to ignore. The “photo that changed the face of AIDS” showed how the depiction of love can melt hearts paralyzed by fear.

By 1990, the AIDS epidemic had devastated millions of lives. Misinformation fueled hysteria, and those with HIV/AIDS faced discrimination and isolation. Therese Frare, a graduate photojournalism student and gay rights activist, wanted to cover AIDS for a school project. But few living with the disease were willing to be photographed. She began volunteering at the Pater Noster House, an AIDS hospice in Columbus, Ohio, where she met Peta, a half–Native American caregiver and client who “rode the line between genders.” Peta cared for David Kirby, a gay activist from small-town Ohio, estranged from his family since revealing his sexuality.

Therese asked David if she could photograph him. He agreed, on the condition no one profited from his image, knowing the power of visuals to change minds. Soon after, David called his parents to tell them he was dying. They welcomed him home emotionally, though they had been hurt by the way medical staff in their rural hospital treated him: wearing gloves and gowns, refusing to hand him menus, and keeping their distance. At Pater Noster House, David had Peta, someone who spoke with him, held him, and relieved his pain through simple human contact.

In April 1990, David’s condition worsened. On the day he died, Therese was visiting Peta when David’s mother asked her to take photos of the family’s goodbyes. Standing quietly in a corner, Therese witnessed David, emaciated, decimated, take his last breath, whisper, “I’m ready,” and slip away surrounded by love.

In November 1990, LIFE Magazine published Therese’s haunting photo of David’s family grieving. It showed not just death, but the love and dignity possible in the face of fear. Readers across America saw a family’s story, cataclysmic pain, and a reminder that it could happen to anyone.

Two years later, United Colors of Benetton used a color version of the image in an HIV/AIDS awareness ad campaign, sparking outrage. Critics ranged from Roman Catholics, who saw it as mocking religious imagery, to AIDS activists, who accused Benetton of exploiting suffering to sell clothing. Fashion magazines like Elle and Vogue refused to run it, while some charities and media outlets called for boycotts.

As the controversy raged, Therese said she began “falling to pieces.” But the Kirbys “never had any reservations” about the ad. They believed it forced people worldwide to confront the human cost of AIDS. In this way, David left his mark, showing that he was “once here, among us” and one of us.

Therese’s story of compassion did not end there. She stayed close to Peta, documenting his decline as HIV turned into full-blown AIDS in 1991 and 1992. The Kirbys, grateful for how Peta had cared for David, began visiting him often, becoming the “house parents” in the home where Peta spent his final months before dying in fall 1992.

Over the past 20 years, it’s estimated that as many as one billion people have seen Therese’s photograph, through LIFE’s publications, the Benetton ad, and countless media stories. Staying true to her promise to David, Therese never made a cent from the image, donating all proceeds to AIDS research. The photo remains a testament to love, dignity, and the power of bearing witness.

References:
“The Face Of AIDS: The Story Behind Therese Frare’s Photo | 100 Photos | TIME.” YouTube, TIME, 21 Nov. 2016, youtu.be/jxaCvvPr98E?si=4ZnLnAA8Vl-tNd.
“World AIDS Day: The Photo That Changed the Face of HIV/AIDS.” LIFE, 15 Jan. 2020, www.life.com/history/behind-the-picture-the-photo-that-changed-the-face-of-aids.

Keywords:
Civil Rights, Justice, Courage, Perseverance, Honesty, Repair the World – Tikkun Olam, Challenge Injustices, Make a Difference, STEAM

Explore ARTEFFECT projects about this Unsung Hero:
Therese Frare Artworks

View Discovery Award projects about this Unsung Hero:
Therese Frare - Discovery Award 2013