Activism has long been a factor in advancing treatment and finding a cure for AIDS.  Organizations like ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power) and TAG (Treatment Action Group) advocated for those infected from the beginning of the epidemic. Because of these groups, patients have benefited from research funding that has led to cutting-edge treatments and transformed HIV and AIDS from a death sentence to a manageable condition.

Producer David France has made a documentary “How To Survive a Plague,” which chronicles the history of ACT UP and TAG using archival footage to tell the story of these activists and their struggle to be heard. The film is set to open in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco on Friday, Sept. 21, with a national release to follow.

Visit the documentary’s website, Facebook page, and follow on Twitter.