Reporter Zero

Determined to rattle a nation in denial, Randy Shilts doggedly covered AIDS when few others would. A "San Francisco Chronicle" reporter and the first openly gay journalist in the mainstream media, Shilts wrote from the front lines of the AIDS crisis while secretly struggling against the disease. Insightful and controversial, his reporting culminated in his best-selling book "And the Band Played On," a seminal work on the politics and history of AIDS. Shilts' story exemplifies the power of journalism, represents a critical moment in LGBT history, documents massive institutional failure, and is an inspirational reminder that one person can make a difference.