Getting politicians and the public to take notice is hard work. But queer activists know how to get attention. ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) is an international activist movement originally founded in New York in 1987. By the 1990s, it was active in Manchester, taking to the streets and demanding to be listened to. In this case, they targeted petrol stations, spreading their vital message about sexual health, and the attention it needed at the time, through active protest. Those who fight for justice today stand on the shoulders of activists like these.

Acting Up! 40 years of HIV Activism is open at Manchester Central Library until December 2025.