Biography / Administrative History
Born in 1970 and diagnosed with HIV as a teenager, Edward Zold has been an AIDS activist since 1990. From 1993-1997, Zold was a spokesperson for AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) Golden Gate. Zold participated in direct action with ACT UP, including the 1993 demonstration at the California state capitol in response to Governor Pete Wilson vetoing a needle exchange program. Wilson cited his anti-drug policy as his primary reason for opposing the program.
In addition to direct action, Zold worked in conjunction with local and federal organizations to draft AIDS policy. Zold collaborated with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on several projects. He was an active member of the CDC's Prevention Marketing Initiative (PMI) committee. In 1995, Zold worked with the PMI to produce a series of AIDS related television and radio public service announcements, which, for the first time, mentioned gay men. In 1996, Zold contributed to the PMI publication, "Applying Prevention Marketing."
From 1993-1997, Zold maintained contact with several other organizations, including the San Francisco Department of Health, the National Institute of Health, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, AIDS Watch, Mothers' Voices, and the Ryan White Project. Zold also attended several AIDS related conferences during this period, including the 1997 Mothers' Voices conference, which determined federal AIDS policy for the following five years.
From the guide to the Edward Zold Papers, 1993-1997, (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society)
