David Wojnarowicz, Sex Series, 1988-89

Nan Goldin: David also speaks about this destruction of communities by the Far Right, by the Government, with AIDS also pertained to IV drug users and homeless people and lesbian community. He doesn't just talk about gay white men which is really important. And he was on that then. It wasn't like something he had to learn over the years.

David Breslin: Wojnarowicz reserved his angriest criticism for conservative politicians who stigmatized people living with HIV and blocked measures—medical and educational—to prevent its spread. When the NEA learned of the essay, they withdrew support for the exhibition. After much debate the funding was partially restored, as long as none of it was used for the catalog. Wojnarowicz agreed to remove some expletives describing Senator Jesse Helms and Cardinal John O’Connor. But he was furious at the censorship—and at Artists Space for accepting NEA money at all. He refused to go to the opening, saying “I don’t feel that civil or constitutional rights are a worthy trade for money.”