I Somehow Survived the Darkest Years of AIDS
I Somehow Survived the Darkest Years of AIDS  
Podcast: What It Was Like
Published On: Sun Jul 19 2026
Description: AIDS devastated America's gay communities through the 1980s. In major cities, up to 50% of gay men were living with the virus, with the median survival rate after diagnosis just 11 months. Mark S. King lived through it all. After moving to Los Angeles in 1981, he watched an entire generation of friends disappear. In this conversation, he reflects on his own HIV diagnosis and miraculous survival, and what those years taught him about life and love.Check out more of Mark’s work on his blog, spanning four decades of essays: My Fabulous DiseaseFollow him on Instagram: mark.s.kingFind us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcastFind us on Youtube: @whatitwaslikepodcastFollow us on Instagram: whatitwaslikepodcastThis is a Superreal production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.