HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT | Benjamin Fleet
This collection of illustrations is titled "Healthcare is a Right,"
a reference to LGBTQ+ activism group ACT UP.
I am an LGBTQ+ identifying medical student in Philadelphia. After learning about HIV in the United States, I realized that many of my classmates were quite unaware of the AIDS epidemic and the ongoing disparities we see in HIV within the LGBTQ+ community. This is a moment in history and political relevance I don't think we can forget. It's particularly relevant for analyzing how American leaders and society react to the COVID-19 Pandemic, notably in how marginalized communites are suffering from disparities in treatment and prevention and how stigmatization plagued specific communities.
I decided to re-educated myself on the history and persistance of HIV in the United States, and reflect upon what I learned through illustration. I learned more through this process as well, even when I thought there wasn't more to know. I fear some days the AIDS epidemic will fade to the background. I hope my illustrations encourage others to learn more about HIV and AIDS on their own and consider how we approach public health has changed.
Benjamin Fleet is an artist and medical student in Philadelphia but has his roots in the Midwest. He is proudly part of the LGBTQ+ community, which has influenced his approach to medicine and has inspired his art. Fleet hopes to continue weaving his passions of art, writing, and caring for others into his career as a physician.