'And the band played on' by Randy Shilts is an absolute must for reading on the AIDS crisis. It covers the politics of the Reagan Administration and the Evangelical side of the Republic Party, and their attitudes towards LGBT people at the time. Most notable Is the difference in compassion to those who contracted HIV through blood transfusions and those who contracted it via sexual activity or drug use.

It also covers the infighting in the medical community on researching for treatment and dissent amongst different sections of the LGBT on how to react to the crisis.