In a local gay newspaper, writer Paul Reed summarized the various styles of gay response to the epidemic. There were the “What Crisis?” types, who denied there was an epidemic at all, as opposed to the “Nervous Nellies,” who were paralyzed with dread. The “Ozzie and Harriets” had settled into monogamous relationships, while the “Superman” types tricked on, convinced they were somehow immune to AIDS. The “Doris Day” types invoked fatalism to rationalize their continued cruising, singing, “Que sera, sera.” Reed counted himself in the last category: “The Utterly Confused.”
