July 25, 2010 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of actor Rock Hudson’s announcement that he was dying of AIDS. Coming at a time when mainstream America understood little about the disease, research funding was meager (President Ronald Reagan had never even mentioned the disease’s name), and the limited options for treatment made AIDS a death sentence and source of hysteria, the Hollywood legend’s shocking admission inspired the first extensive media coverage of the disease and ignited fundraising efforts to find a cure. Hudson himself stated, "I am not happy that I am sick. I am not happy that I have AIDS. But if that is helping others, I can at least know that my own misfortune has had some positive worth."

The 59-year-old Hollywood legend died in his Beverly Hills home on October 2, 1985. The following year saw the release of Rock Hudson: His Story, co-written with Sara Davidson, which detailed his charmed life and tragic final days. Excerpts can be found in People magazine's archives: Part I and Part II.

Although we have come a long way in prevention and treatment since Hudson’s death, the CDC reports that 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS today. According to the CIA’s World Factbook, the worldwide figure was 33 million as of 2007. For a comprehensive look at the early history of HIV and AIDS, read Randy Shilts’ And the Band Played On. Originally published in 1987, this thoroughly researched but highly readable book examines the medical, social, and political aspects of the disease, spinning a story that has lost none of its power or relevance in the years since HIV and AIDS first hit mainstream radar.