In the eighties, we danced to a new beat. Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, George Michael, Prince, and Michael Jackson all became synonymous with the decade. But something more sinister was looming. The summer of 1981 was the first recorded case of AIDS. A doctor named Michael Gottlieb “identified five male homosexuals with an unusual case of pneumonia” (Gay L.A.) and within months it was an epidemic in the gay male community. Entire communities were wiped out. Nobody knew what they were dealing with. Nobody knew what AIDS was, and everyone was afraid they were going to catch it. Homophobia was at an all-time high, as it seemed to target specifically homosexual communities. Heterosexual nurses and caregivers refused to care for homosexual men, and so lesbians stepped up to become caregivers.
However, it wasn’t just gay men who were affected. The Golden Girls was never afraid to tackle issues in its seven-year run. Homophobia, ageism, sexism, and sexual harassment are just a few issues that Dorothy, Sophia, Rose, and Blanche had to face. (All four actresses won Emmys for their roles.) In the episode 72 Hours, Rose has to face the possibility that during her gallbladder surgery years age, she may have been exposed to blood that contained HIV antibodies. She has to go to the hospital for an AIDS test.
For moral support, Dorothy, Blanche, and Sophia go with her. The receptionist encourages Rose to give a false name for anonymity, so Rose humorously gives Dorothy’s name. Blanche pulls Rose aside and tells her that she, too, has had an AIDS test when the AIDS epidemic began, as Blanche is very promiscuous, and now Blanche uses the proper precautions. When Rose is finally called in for her test, she learns that she has to wait 72 hours for the results. Rose loses it. How can she wait 72 hours to know if she’ll live or die?
Meanwhile, Sophia has fallen prey to the hysteria surrounding AIDS. She won’t use the same bathroom as Rose. She uses a Sharpie to put an “R” on certain mugs so that Rose will only use those mugs. However, Dorothy gives her a good talking-to, and at the end of the scene Sophia is drinking out one of the “R” mugs.
Speaking of good taking-to’s, Blanche gives Rose the most important of the episode. When Rose completely breaks down over being told to “calm down,” she says to Blanche, “This isn’t supposed to happen to people like me! You must have gone to bed with hundreds of men! All I had was one innocent operation!” “Wait just a second!” Blanche says. “Are you saying this should be me and not you?” “No! Rose says. “All I’m saying is I’m a good person! Hell, I’m a goody-two-shoes!” “AIDS is not a bad person’s disease, Rose,” Blanche states. “It is not God punishing people for their sins.”
Rose’s 72 hours are finally up. She and the rest of the girls gather in the doctor’s office. The doctor announces that Dorothy has a clean bill of health. “Thank god!” says Dorothy. “Well that’s good for you, Dorothy but what about me?” Rose exclaims. “Rose, you used my name, remember?” Dorothy explains humorously.
72 Hours aired in 1989, when AIDS had been a part of our lives for several years, unfortunately. The Golden Girls took on the AIDS epidemic the way they took on everything: with smarts, compassion, and, most importantly, with respectful humor.
Works Cited
Bustle.com April 7, 2016 https://www.bustle.com/articles/152892-9-life-lessons-from-the-golden-girls
Faderman, Lillian and Timmons, Stuart. Gay L.A. University of California Press. 2006.
Kostopolous, Zak. “The Golden Girls- “AIDS is not a bad persons disease.” YouTube.com. Jan. 7, 2012. 1:55.
Blogging Bonnie 
I remember this. This episode covered a strong social issue with humor and reality. The women on this show were strong feminist in their own right and ahead of the time.
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Great post and very interesting depiction on how the media covered such a controversial topic.
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