1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:02,877 --> 00:00:04,254 Is it worth me dying for this? 3 00:00:05,255 --> 00:00:06,172 That's so dramatic (laughs). 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 5 00:00:08,883 --> 00:00:10,093 Interviewer: You're like, 6 00:00:10,135 --> 00:00:11,594 "as long as you get it on tape." 7 00:00:11,636 --> 00:00:12,303 (laughs) Oh my God. 8 00:00:17,392 --> 00:00:20,603 My commitment to this trial, it, 9 00:00:20,645 --> 00:00:21,938 yeah, it's worth, it is worth dying for. 10 00:00:21,980 --> 00:00:23,773 (touching music) 11 00:00:29,362 --> 00:00:31,823 My name is Jeffrey Drew. 12 00:00:31,865 --> 00:00:32,991 I have been HIV positive 13 00:00:33,033 --> 00:00:34,284 for over 32 years now. 14 00:00:36,578 --> 00:00:38,204 (touching music) 15 00:00:46,463 --> 00:00:48,673 Judge: Do you swear or affirm 16 00:00:48,715 --> 00:00:51,217 that the testimony you are about to give 17 00:00:51,259 --> 00:00:53,386 is the truth, the whole truth 18 00:00:53,428 --> 00:00:55,013 and nothing but the truth, so help you God? 19 00:00:55,055 --> 00:00:56,264 Group: I do. 20 00:00:58,391 --> 00:01:01,144 In 1995, we told patients with AIDS 21 00:01:01,186 --> 00:01:03,480 they would with certainty die. 22 00:01:03,521 --> 00:01:06,149 AIDS plagued my internship. 23 00:01:06,191 --> 00:01:08,234 By the end of that year, 24 00:01:08,276 --> 00:01:11,071 we had an FDA approved HIV cocktail, 25 00:01:11,112 --> 00:01:13,406 three drugs up to 14 pills a day, 26 00:01:13,448 --> 00:01:15,533 which if taken without fail, 27 00:01:15,575 --> 00:01:18,828 allowed AIDS patients to live. 28 00:01:18,870 --> 00:01:21,331 At the time, the three drugs of the cocktail 29 00:01:21,373 --> 00:01:25,251 cost a total of $15,000 per person per year, 30 00:01:25,293 --> 00:01:27,671 but the cost of these drug regiments today 31 00:01:27,712 --> 00:01:31,049 is $40,000 to $50,000 per person per year, 32 00:01:31,091 --> 00:01:34,928 A 300% increase in 25 years. 33 00:01:34,969 --> 00:01:37,180 I just believe that it's my responsibility 34 00:01:37,222 --> 00:01:40,600 as a human being just to try to do my best here, 35 00:01:40,642 --> 00:01:43,269 and if that means helping to gather information 36 00:01:43,311 --> 00:01:45,814 for a cure, that appeals to me. 37 00:01:54,322 --> 00:01:56,574 I had heard about the trial the summer, 38 00:01:56,616 --> 00:01:58,284 the beginning of the summer of 2019. 39 00:01:58,326 --> 00:02:00,453 They had already started, 40 00:02:00,495 --> 00:02:03,748 they had a few people involved with patient one, 41 00:02:03,790 --> 00:02:08,503 and so there was an excitement about it 42 00:02:08,545 --> 00:02:10,130 and wasn't attached to big pharma, and I thought, 43 00:02:10,171 --> 00:02:11,798 "oh, that's interesting," 44 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,635 and so it took me awhile to consider it 45 00:02:15,677 --> 00:02:20,557 because I didn't know what it exactly entailed. 46 00:02:20,598 --> 00:02:23,727 I was concerned about in the long term, what would happen, 47 00:02:23,768 --> 00:02:27,981 and even my HIV doctor, I might as well just say this. 48 00:02:28,023 --> 00:02:30,400 I mean, they don't know that I've been doing this study 49 00:02:30,442 --> 00:02:33,611 and I've just kept it from them, 50 00:02:33,653 --> 00:02:35,280 because I don't want to be cut off from the system. 51 00:02:37,532 --> 00:02:39,534 I've been keeping all my medications 52 00:02:39,576 --> 00:02:40,410 because I don't know if I'm going to need them. 53 00:02:43,872 --> 00:02:45,165 Interviewer: Does that scare you? 54 00:02:45,206 --> 00:02:46,416 It scares the shit out of me. 55 00:02:49,878 --> 00:02:50,670 Interviewer: About how many dollars 56 00:02:50,712 --> 00:02:52,297 do you think this is worth? 57 00:02:52,339 --> 00:02:55,383 Thousands I would say. 58 00:02:55,425 --> 00:02:56,801 Yeah, yeah, but this one's most important (laughs). 59 00:03:00,722 --> 00:03:03,183 There's a law allowing physicians and patients 60 00:03:03,224 --> 00:03:06,019 to try something experimental 61 00:03:06,061 --> 00:03:08,855 If the currently available medications aren't working. 62 00:03:08,897 --> 00:03:10,899 it's called the Right to Try law, 63 00:03:10,940 --> 00:03:14,110 and this is part of that. 64 00:03:14,152 --> 00:03:16,488 It's not really a clinical trial. 65 00:03:16,529 --> 00:03:18,990 It's really kind of a alternative, experimental, 66 00:03:19,032 --> 00:03:21,868 investigational treatment for individuals 67 00:03:21,910 --> 00:03:24,871 whose virus is not responding well, 68 00:03:24,913 --> 00:03:28,541 and if their results are promising, 69 00:03:28,583 --> 00:03:30,085 then you can present it to the FDA 70 00:03:30,126 --> 00:03:31,586 and do a real clinical trial. 71 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,593 The right to try. It's my body. 72 00:03:38,635 --> 00:03:41,471 It's my body. What I choose to do with it, 73 00:03:41,513 --> 00:03:43,390 and just gathering that information for these people 74 00:03:43,431 --> 00:03:46,559 is my small way of being a part 75 00:03:46,601 --> 00:03:47,435 of hopefully finding a cure. 76 00:03:50,146 --> 00:03:52,273 You know, the tragedy is, 77 00:03:52,315 --> 00:03:53,775 is there are more people living with HIV 78 00:03:53,817 --> 00:03:56,361 in the US today than there ever has been in history, 79 00:03:56,403 --> 00:03:57,529 but it's not something that is hitting 80 00:03:57,570 --> 00:03:58,446 the front pages anymore. 81 00:04:02,325 --> 00:04:07,330 (big band music) 82 00:04:07,372 --> 00:04:08,915 My name is Jeffrey and I'm Miss Nevada, Miss Lotta Slots. 83 00:04:08,957 --> 00:04:10,333 (applause) 84 00:04:13,628 --> 00:04:16,297 Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, 85 00:04:16,339 --> 00:04:18,717 please help me welcome, from the Sahara Hotel, Lotta Slots. 86 00:04:21,302 --> 00:04:23,430 I first started becoming involved 87 00:04:23,471 --> 00:04:28,685 with Best in Drag show in 1996. 88 00:04:28,727 --> 00:04:30,562 Alexis Pitman asked me to be a part of it, 89 00:04:30,603 --> 00:04:33,106 and it was this fundraiser to raise money 90 00:04:33,148 --> 00:04:35,608 for people living with AIDS who needed help 91 00:04:35,650 --> 00:04:38,278 with housing or food or paying their bills. 92 00:04:38,319 --> 00:04:39,612 Announcer: Our girl, Miss Nevada. 93 00:04:39,654 --> 00:04:41,656 Now, wait a minute. 94 00:04:41,698 --> 00:04:44,451 Exactly how did she win the Miss Nevada Pageant? 95 00:04:44,492 --> 00:04:46,453 Pageant Host: Honey, that girl is so lucky, 96 00:04:46,494 --> 00:04:48,538 there is a horse shoe up her ass. Honey, oh. 97 00:04:48,580 --> 00:04:52,459 Announcer: Explains that walk, doesn't it? 98 00:04:52,500 --> 00:04:53,376 Six, seven, then eight. 99 00:04:58,882 --> 00:05:02,677 For an eight and a two, and then hold up. 100 00:05:02,719 --> 00:05:04,637 Jeffrey's participation in the Best in Drag Show. 101 00:05:04,679 --> 00:05:07,474 over the past 25 years has been extraordinary 102 00:05:07,515 --> 00:05:10,268 and he is part of a group of men 103 00:05:10,310 --> 00:05:12,228 that have raised over $5 million for this agency. 104 00:05:12,270 --> 00:05:15,106 When he took over the show, 105 00:05:15,148 --> 00:05:18,777 it was a monumental undertaking because it's 200 volunteers. 106 00:05:18,818 --> 00:05:20,779 It's like wrangling cats, but the point is, 107 00:05:20,820 --> 00:05:22,947 is that Jeffrey has made a commitment 108 00:05:22,989 --> 00:05:24,908 to make sure that the show is his very best 109 00:05:24,949 --> 00:05:27,744 that it can possibly be year in and year out. 110 00:05:27,786 --> 00:05:30,663 He's synonymous today with the Best in Drag Show. 111 00:05:30,705 --> 00:05:31,664 We need to keep pushing for more funding, 112 00:05:31,706 --> 00:05:34,167 getting involved in raising money, 113 00:05:34,209 --> 00:05:36,711 and supporting groups like Aid for AIDS, 114 00:05:36,753 --> 00:05:39,130 and as my great, great friend, Sammy Davis Jr. told me, 115 00:05:39,172 --> 00:05:40,632 (crowd laughs) 116 00:05:47,555 --> 00:05:50,141 "What the world needs now is love sweet love." 117 00:05:50,183 --> 00:05:51,559 (applause) 118 00:05:54,813 --> 00:05:56,106 [Event Host] That's the most we've ever raised. 119 00:05:56,147 --> 00:05:58,108 The most it's ever been before. Thank you so much. 120 00:06:07,325 --> 00:06:08,618 It's a treatable disease, 121 00:06:08,660 --> 00:06:11,371 and so I believe this is all 122 00:06:11,413 --> 00:06:14,624 about monopoly and making money. 123 00:06:14,666 --> 00:06:17,711 Even with this trial that I'm on, 124 00:06:17,752 --> 00:06:18,878 there are five or six others happening, too. 125 00:06:21,798 --> 00:06:22,590 There are two schools of thought 126 00:06:22,632 --> 00:06:23,717 about why they're secretive. 127 00:06:23,758 --> 00:06:25,802 Number one is to maintain the integrity, 128 00:06:25,844 --> 00:06:27,846 and then there is a school of thinking 129 00:06:27,887 --> 00:06:30,306 that says drug companies are in the business 130 00:06:30,348 --> 00:06:33,309 of treating diseases, not necessarily curing diseases, 131 00:06:33,351 --> 00:06:35,729 so those who may be looking to actually cure a disease 132 00:06:35,770 --> 00:06:37,647 may be at risk of being bought out, 133 00:06:37,689 --> 00:06:38,690 having their process challenged. 134 00:06:53,413 --> 00:06:54,748 Interviewer: Are you nervous at all? 135 00:06:54,789 --> 00:06:58,084 I'm always nervous when I come here. 136 00:06:58,126 --> 00:07:01,046 I think we're getting test results today, 137 00:07:01,087 --> 00:07:05,050 but we're getting the whole kit and caboodle, yeah. 138 00:07:05,091 --> 00:07:07,594 They talk about this race to find a cure, 139 00:07:07,635 --> 00:07:10,764 and I don't know if that's true anymore, 140 00:07:10,805 --> 00:07:11,806 and we see it even with PrEP. 141 00:07:16,978 --> 00:07:18,521 (sad music) 142 00:07:27,489 --> 00:07:31,034 When I think about the fact that Truvada for PrEP 143 00:07:31,076 --> 00:07:32,827 is only getting to 10% of the people that need it, 144 00:07:36,373 --> 00:07:37,665 What about the other 90%? 145 00:07:39,501 --> 00:07:41,544 What about their families? 146 00:07:41,586 --> 00:07:43,963 Gilliad has shown as, 147 00:07:44,005 --> 00:07:45,965 as unfortunately many other big pharmaceutical companies 148 00:07:46,007 --> 00:07:47,300 have shown, that they're willing to put profits 149 00:07:47,342 --> 00:07:50,845 over patient health. 150 00:07:50,887 --> 00:07:51,638 So the list price is almost $2,000 in the United States. 151 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:53,014 Why is it $8 in Australia? 152 00:07:55,308 --> 00:07:56,643 Truvada, it still has patent protection 153 00:08:00,271 --> 00:08:00,772 in the United States and in the rest of the world, 154 00:08:00,814 --> 00:08:02,023 it is generic. 155 00:08:02,065 --> 00:08:03,441 I can't comment on the price in Australia 156 00:08:03,483 --> 00:08:05,819 of the generic medicines. 157 00:08:05,860 --> 00:08:09,447 In Australia, PrEP is $8 a month. 158 00:08:09,489 --> 00:08:11,032 In the United States, it's almost $2,000 a month. 159 00:08:13,368 --> 00:08:15,036 (crickets chirping) 160 00:08:21,167 --> 00:08:24,045 Yeah, feeling lousy after eight hours 161 00:08:26,339 --> 00:08:28,633 of (coughs) doing a kind of, 162 00:08:33,888 --> 00:08:36,182 having somebody else's healthy cells 163 00:08:36,224 --> 00:08:38,810 injected into me, 164 00:08:38,852 --> 00:08:41,938 and then I came home and I was okay, 165 00:08:45,567 --> 00:08:47,110 and they were surprised that I wasn't a lot more sick. 166 00:08:51,906 --> 00:08:52,991 Creating new immunity is something that 167 00:08:53,033 --> 00:08:55,326 the only way we've ever done that 168 00:08:55,368 --> 00:08:59,122 is by taking people who have life-threatening cancers 169 00:08:59,164 --> 00:09:01,541 and wiping out their immune system 170 00:09:01,583 --> 00:09:03,460 with very highly toxic chemotherapy, 171 00:09:03,501 --> 00:09:05,795 and during this period of time, 172 00:09:05,837 --> 00:09:09,341 they are at tremendous risk of death, 173 00:09:09,382 --> 00:09:11,051 tremendous risk of death, 174 00:09:11,092 --> 00:09:14,387 probably about a 30 to 40% chance of dying. 175 00:09:14,429 --> 00:09:17,724 So they, this kind of procedure is not one 176 00:09:17,766 --> 00:09:19,517 that's going to be done for the masses. 177 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,479 We're seeing whether or not we can do 178 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:26,191 a kind of a stem cell transplant, 179 00:09:26,232 --> 00:09:29,486 not a full one where we wipe his immune system 180 00:09:29,527 --> 00:09:30,820 out completely, because we don't want to do that to him. 181 00:09:32,572 --> 00:09:33,948 (sad music) 182 00:09:37,369 --> 00:09:41,414 This is not about the vilifying of profit. 183 00:09:41,456 --> 00:09:45,293 This is about the vilifying of choosing profit over people, 184 00:09:45,335 --> 00:09:50,298 and if we know that a new person is infected 185 00:09:50,340 --> 00:09:53,259 every 15 minutes and we've been here two and a half hours, 186 00:09:53,301 --> 00:09:58,098 that's 10 more people who have been infected. 187 00:09:58,139 --> 00:09:59,766 The more time we waste, the more lives that we are losing. 188 00:10:03,645 --> 00:10:05,772 It's been a rough week. 189 00:10:05,814 --> 00:10:08,316 So, it was a week of (exhales) 190 00:10:15,323 --> 00:10:18,159 chemo, learning how to inject myself with the chemo, 191 00:10:18,201 --> 00:10:21,162 and going in and getting the vaccine also, 192 00:10:25,333 --> 00:10:28,712 and then all of a sudden it hit like, 193 00:10:28,753 --> 00:10:30,213 between the chills and the fever, 194 00:10:30,255 --> 00:10:32,966 and shitting on myself, and throwing up, 195 00:10:33,008 --> 00:10:35,427 and everything else, 196 00:10:35,468 --> 00:10:37,846 and I just keep saying, "what have I done?" 197 00:10:42,350 --> 00:10:44,144 (water running) 198 00:10:46,646 --> 00:10:48,356 (crickets chirping) 199 00:10:54,988 --> 00:10:57,949 I was just stuck here. I couldn't move. 200 00:10:57,991 --> 00:10:59,284 The only way I was going out was to walk my dog. 201 00:11:01,870 --> 00:11:03,288 A couple of times, 202 00:11:03,329 --> 00:11:05,165 I'd just be walking down the street 203 00:11:05,206 --> 00:11:06,332 and all of a sudden my body would just start 204 00:11:06,374 --> 00:11:08,460 shitting on itself without even knowing 205 00:11:08,501 --> 00:11:09,169 what was happening, 206 00:11:12,255 --> 00:11:14,382 and then I would think what would happen to me if I died, 207 00:11:18,887 --> 00:11:21,348 and then I would think, then I would think (laughs), 208 00:11:25,101 --> 00:11:29,022 "who would be mad, who would be sad," 209 00:11:29,064 --> 00:11:31,524 "and who would be happy that I was dead?" 210 00:11:31,566 --> 00:11:35,320 (laughs) 211 00:11:35,362 --> 00:11:37,072 That's what I would think about, yeah. 212 00:11:38,281 --> 00:11:39,908 (laughs) 213 00:11:43,244 --> 00:11:45,538 Yeah, that's what happens when you have a fever. 214 00:11:45,580 --> 00:11:46,998 (laughs) 215 00:11:49,626 --> 00:11:51,378 (melancholy music) 216 00:12:14,484 --> 00:12:16,111 My friends and I were just sitting around waiting 217 00:12:16,152 --> 00:12:17,570 to see who was going to die first, 218 00:12:17,612 --> 00:12:19,614 and we watched them. 219 00:12:19,656 --> 00:12:22,075 We watched our friends go one by one by one, 220 00:12:22,117 --> 00:12:25,412 we took care of them. We were bedside with them. 221 00:12:25,453 --> 00:12:27,580 We were feeding them. We were changing all that 222 00:12:27,622 --> 00:12:30,083 I don't want to say trauma, but it was, it was rough. 223 00:12:32,460 --> 00:12:34,504 It was rough, 224 00:12:34,546 --> 00:12:37,424 and these men were dying with dignity and humor. 225 00:12:37,465 --> 00:12:40,593 Oh my God, humor. 226 00:12:40,635 --> 00:12:42,053 I don't want people to forget their names, 227 00:12:47,934 --> 00:12:48,518 because sometimes, some days I do. 228 00:12:49,894 --> 00:12:51,187 I forget about them. 229 00:12:51,980 --> 00:12:53,314 (sad music) 230 00:13:01,239 --> 00:13:04,617 I'm always busy doing things and going places and stuff, 231 00:13:04,659 --> 00:13:07,746 and this really slowed it down, you know, 232 00:13:07,787 --> 00:13:12,292 and each day I feel better, but at the worst of it, 233 00:13:12,334 --> 00:13:13,376 I was like, "what the fuck did I do?" 234 00:13:16,212 --> 00:13:18,798 and there's nobody to blame, but myself, 235 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,635 so it's not like you can go for a sympathy with anybody, 236 00:13:22,677 --> 00:13:27,307 (laughs) so, and it kinda just kinda freaks people out 237 00:13:27,349 --> 00:13:28,558 that you're just playing with your body this way. 238 00:13:30,060 --> 00:13:31,895 (birds chirping) 239 00:13:50,872 --> 00:13:53,792 It all goes back to the initial patent 240 00:13:53,833 --> 00:13:55,001 that Gilead was able to secure 241 00:13:55,043 --> 00:13:57,921 on the pro-drug Tenofovir. 242 00:13:57,962 --> 00:14:00,548 Their sole control over this molecule 243 00:14:00,590 --> 00:14:03,093 from the mid nineties has led to their hold 244 00:14:03,134 --> 00:14:06,388 over the HIV medication market. 245 00:14:06,429 --> 00:14:09,849 It's a common theme to do evergreening, 246 00:14:09,891 --> 00:14:12,352 which is when a patent holder will make small tweaks 247 00:14:12,394 --> 00:14:14,771 to the patent to extend their exclusivity period 248 00:14:14,813 --> 00:14:18,108 and keep drug prices high. 249 00:14:18,149 --> 00:14:19,943 The public, we, the people develop this drug. 250 00:14:19,984 --> 00:14:22,362 We paid for this drug. 251 00:14:22,404 --> 00:14:25,115 We led and developed all of the grounding patents, 252 00:14:25,156 --> 00:14:28,410 and then that patent has been privatized, 253 00:14:28,451 --> 00:14:31,746 and as a result, people are, are dying for no reason, 254 00:14:31,788 --> 00:14:33,707 for no reason. 255 00:14:33,748 --> 00:14:35,417 It is a reasonable question, 256 00:14:35,458 --> 00:14:37,836 what patent length should be. 257 00:14:37,877 --> 00:14:41,089 I'd like to have that conversation and dialogue. 258 00:14:41,131 --> 00:14:41,798 I don't know whether it should be one year, five years, 259 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,467 17 years. I don't know. 260 00:14:44,509 --> 00:14:46,553 Let's have that debate. 261 00:14:57,147 --> 00:14:58,898 Interviewer: How are you feeling? 262 00:14:58,940 --> 00:15:00,859 You know what? Okay. (coughs) 263 00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:04,612 Yeah, tired, exhausted, 264 00:15:08,408 --> 00:15:11,745 So, I'm hoping a little coffee 265 00:15:11,786 --> 00:15:12,620 will make me feel better. 266 00:15:12,662 --> 00:15:13,997 (inhales) 267 00:15:20,795 --> 00:15:22,422 I think that survivor guilt 268 00:15:22,464 --> 00:15:25,508 plays a huge part in a lot of our lives, 269 00:15:25,550 --> 00:15:27,052 and I think one of the ways that it plays out 270 00:15:27,093 --> 00:15:29,929 is in being so willing to do whatever it takes 271 00:15:29,971 --> 00:15:32,432 to find a cure so that our existence 272 00:15:32,474 --> 00:15:33,558 on the planet wasn't in vain. 273 00:15:37,103 --> 00:15:37,854 How are you? 274 00:15:37,896 --> 00:15:38,980 I'm good. 275 00:15:43,651 --> 00:15:46,613 Greg approached me to also do the trial 276 00:15:46,654 --> 00:15:49,574 and I was open to the possibilities 277 00:15:52,577 --> 00:15:55,330 and I went in and I said, "nah, I can't." 278 00:15:55,372 --> 00:15:56,289 Right. 279 00:15:56,331 --> 00:15:56,956 "I can't right now." 280 00:15:56,998 --> 00:15:59,000 You can't. 281 00:15:59,042 --> 00:15:59,459 Yeah, and you said yes. 282 00:15:59,501 --> 00:16:01,628 Yeah. 283 00:16:01,670 --> 00:16:02,837 There are my core group of friends, 284 00:16:02,879 --> 00:16:03,797 there were a few of them that were just like, 285 00:16:03,838 --> 00:16:05,799 "What are you doing?" 286 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,010 "This isn't proven. You don't look well." 287 00:16:09,052 --> 00:16:12,639 "You're really sick. What are you thinking?" 288 00:16:12,681 --> 00:16:15,225 Jeffrey was having night sweats. 289 00:16:15,266 --> 00:16:16,309 He was throwing up. 290 00:16:16,351 --> 00:16:18,228 He was having chills. 291 00:16:18,269 --> 00:16:20,647 He wasn't able to get out of bed, 292 00:16:20,689 --> 00:16:23,942 and I'm thinking to myself, "I can't do that right now," 293 00:16:23,983 --> 00:16:26,069 and I just look at Jeffrey again, 294 00:16:26,111 --> 00:16:28,488 and I just go, "right on baby." 295 00:16:28,530 --> 00:16:29,239 It takes a strong constitution 296 00:16:32,492 --> 00:16:33,618 and that's my best friend. 297 00:16:35,203 --> 00:16:36,830 That's how he rolls. 298 00:16:36,871 --> 00:16:40,959 (bright music) 299 00:16:41,001 --> 00:16:43,795 Obviously, companies are going to be profit motivated, 300 00:16:43,837 --> 00:16:47,048 but when that intersects with public health 301 00:16:47,090 --> 00:16:49,551 and with the welfare of individuals, 302 00:16:49,592 --> 00:16:54,180 the question becomes, should there be mechanisms, 303 00:16:54,222 --> 00:16:57,851 whether it be the law or whether it be legislative change 304 00:16:57,892 --> 00:17:01,396 where a pharmaceutical company should be held accountable, 305 00:17:01,438 --> 00:17:04,858 where it makes a decision solely based on profit, 306 00:17:04,899 --> 00:17:07,819 or is there an additional obligation that is owed 307 00:17:07,861 --> 00:17:09,320 because it concerns public health and individual health. 308 00:17:11,114 --> 00:17:12,699 I am not getting paid. 309 00:17:12,741 --> 00:17:14,534 It's all volunteer 310 00:17:14,576 --> 00:17:18,872 and people are surprised by that. 311 00:17:18,913 --> 00:17:22,417 I'm four months into this trial. I'm broke. 312 00:17:22,459 --> 00:17:24,544 I never really planned for the future. 313 00:17:24,586 --> 00:17:26,588 because I never really thought that I would be here. 314 00:17:41,269 --> 00:17:43,521 I was supposed to go to DC back in February 315 00:17:43,563 --> 00:17:46,274 when my viral load were so great, 316 00:17:46,316 --> 00:17:49,152 and then with this whole COVID pandemic situation, 317 00:17:49,194 --> 00:17:51,821 they kept putting it off, 318 00:17:51,863 --> 00:17:56,034 but now the scientists who came up with this vaccine 319 00:17:56,076 --> 00:17:58,078 has also been pulled into finding a cure for COVID, 320 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:00,580 and so I get it, but it's like, okay, 321 00:18:00,622 --> 00:18:04,084 where do I fit into all this? 322 00:18:04,125 --> 00:18:05,335 And where, what am I doing? 323 00:18:08,380 --> 00:18:11,758 That always, I'm afraid that all that this work 324 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,594 and this whole lifestyle change this last year 325 00:18:14,636 --> 00:18:17,430 would be affected and that it would be discounted, 326 00:18:17,472 --> 00:18:20,850 yeah, so I would assume that it's all in order, 327 00:18:20,892 --> 00:18:22,143 but then who knows? 328 00:18:28,149 --> 00:18:29,275 Interviewer: How are you feeling 329 00:18:29,317 --> 00:18:30,235 about Best in Drag this year? 330 00:18:30,276 --> 00:18:32,320 Good, excited, excited. 331 00:18:32,362 --> 00:18:33,405 There's a lot going on. 332 00:18:40,203 --> 00:18:43,581 In this world of COVID, we are rehearsing 333 00:18:43,623 --> 00:18:47,377 in a parking lot in Eagle Rock to keep everybody safe. 334 00:18:47,419 --> 00:18:49,129 And it's about producing an opening number 335 00:18:49,170 --> 00:18:51,965 that is social distancing. 336 00:18:52,007 --> 00:18:53,717 We won't be dancing on top of each other. 337 00:18:53,758 --> 00:18:58,763 I noticed my concentration is a little off 338 00:18:58,805 --> 00:19:01,349 with all of it because it's so hard to think sometimes 339 00:19:01,391 --> 00:19:05,478 in this Groundhog's Day of COVID right now, 340 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,273 I'm just grateful that I'm physically able to do what I do, 341 00:19:08,314 --> 00:19:10,775 and I can ask for help if I need it. 342 00:19:19,367 --> 00:19:22,328 The people that are so affected by this disease 343 00:19:22,370 --> 00:19:24,456 are the ones that, you know, 344 00:19:24,497 --> 00:19:27,500 can't afford medication or can't get medication, 345 00:19:27,542 --> 00:19:29,502 and typically tend to be minorities. 346 00:19:29,544 --> 00:19:31,212 They tend to be poor. 347 00:19:31,254 --> 00:19:32,672 They tend to be homeless, 348 00:19:32,714 --> 00:19:35,467 and these are members of society 349 00:19:35,508 --> 00:19:38,636 that the majority of society wants to overlook, 350 00:19:38,678 --> 00:19:42,599 and when you've got a medication that some wealthier people 351 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,185 can afford, it's hard to put a spotlight 352 00:19:45,226 --> 00:19:48,355 on the ones that actually need it, 353 00:19:48,396 --> 00:19:49,314 and that are suffering from this disease. 354 00:19:50,231 --> 00:19:51,983 (intense music) 355 00:20:09,626 --> 00:20:11,419 I think about the early days, the eighties, 356 00:20:11,461 --> 00:20:14,381 the nine, you know, a PLA dance-a-thon, 357 00:20:14,422 --> 00:20:16,299 the Paws benefit, pets are wonderful support, 358 00:20:16,341 --> 00:20:19,886 and even the Commitment to Life, 359 00:20:19,928 --> 00:20:23,014 or they'd honor Barbara Streisand or Elizabeth Taylor 360 00:20:23,056 --> 00:20:25,558 and then charge a gazillion dollars to go, 361 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:27,560 and none of that's happening anymore. 362 00:20:27,602 --> 00:20:30,522 It went from being very high visibility 363 00:20:32,691 --> 00:20:35,402 and lots of press stuff to you never know 364 00:20:35,443 --> 00:20:38,405 if it's going to make it with the AP or anything. 365 00:20:38,446 --> 00:20:42,992 Other diseases that have taken over, 366 00:20:43,034 --> 00:20:44,577 you know, more important. 367 00:20:48,873 --> 00:20:52,043 People's lives are not commodities. 368 00:20:52,085 --> 00:20:56,089 You can say, "how much is this phone worth to you?" 369 00:20:56,131 --> 00:20:58,842 and you can say, "a hundred dollars, two hundred dollars." 370 00:20:58,883 --> 00:21:02,095 You can buy a Nokia phone. You can not have a phone at all, 371 00:21:02,137 --> 00:21:04,014 but you cannot ask the question, 372 00:21:04,055 --> 00:21:06,099 "How much will you pay to be alive?" 373 00:21:06,141 --> 00:21:08,685 "How much will you pay to live?" 374 00:21:08,727 --> 00:21:10,437 because the answer is "everything." 375 00:21:10,478 --> 00:21:12,105 You will pay $10, 376 00:21:12,147 --> 00:21:12,939 you'll pay a thousand dollars. 377 00:21:12,981 --> 00:21:14,607 You will go into debt, 378 00:21:14,649 --> 00:21:16,943 you will do anything to live, 379 00:21:16,985 --> 00:21:19,988 and that is what makes the price of medicine 380 00:21:20,030 --> 00:21:20,655 different than the price of an iPhone. 381 00:21:24,451 --> 00:21:28,121 Announcer: Miss Nevada, Lotta Slots! 382 00:21:28,163 --> 00:21:30,623 We have the scientific tools to end this HIV epidemic, 383 00:21:30,665 --> 00:21:31,750 and we are fortunate that pharma has developed 384 00:21:31,791 --> 00:21:34,627 these drugs to get us there. 385 00:21:34,669 --> 00:21:37,547 They have already profited enormously. 386 00:21:37,589 --> 00:21:40,216 Now, in the spirit of saving lives, 387 00:21:40,258 --> 00:21:43,803 I simply ask that these drugs be reasonably priced 388 00:21:43,845 --> 00:21:45,597 so that those most marginalized and at risk 389 00:21:45,638 --> 00:21:48,391 can reap their benefit. 390 00:21:48,433 --> 00:21:50,101 I hope that some of these companies, 391 00:21:50,143 --> 00:21:54,522 including Gilead will begin to do the right thing. 392 00:21:54,564 --> 00:21:55,690 It's never too late for that. Thank you. 393 00:22:02,739 --> 00:22:03,490 You ready to do this? 394 00:22:03,531 --> 00:22:05,784 Yes. 395 00:22:05,825 --> 00:22:06,576 Interviewer: Today's the final day. 396 00:22:06,618 --> 00:22:10,914 Hopefully, hopefully. 397 00:22:10,955 --> 00:22:12,832 Interviewer: How long do you think you'll be here? 398 00:22:12,874 --> 00:22:14,209 Think I'm here for a couple hours. I know that. 399 00:22:14,250 --> 00:22:15,752 That's what they told me. So-- 400 00:22:15,794 --> 00:22:17,587 Interviewer: Are you nervous? 401 00:22:17,629 --> 00:22:19,381 I'm nervous, I'm anxious, I'm irritated. 402 00:22:19,422 --> 00:22:21,758 I just want to get this done. 403 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,552 I've been reflecting a lot on the last year 404 00:22:24,594 --> 00:22:27,597 and this commitment and what am I doing 405 00:22:27,639 --> 00:22:29,224 and why am I doing this, 406 00:22:29,265 --> 00:22:31,685 and getting back to my life 407 00:22:31,726 --> 00:22:34,062 and remember that I've been 408 00:22:34,104 --> 00:22:36,690 going through this process through a pandemic, 409 00:22:36,731 --> 00:22:38,525 so it has to, I have to surrender, you know, 410 00:22:42,862 --> 00:22:45,740 my character defect of lack of patience. 411 00:22:49,244 --> 00:22:50,829 That's, I'm feeling a little bratty today, 412 00:22:50,870 --> 00:22:55,125 so that's what anyone can (laughs) 413 00:22:55,166 --> 00:22:58,461 This is my acting shirt (laughs) 414 00:22:58,503 --> 00:22:59,504 I'm feeling like a warrior today. 415 00:22:59,546 --> 00:23:01,506 Interviewer: Yeah. 416 00:23:01,548 --> 00:23:02,716 I don't want to cuss anybody out though. 417 00:23:02,757 --> 00:23:04,759 (Interviewer laughs) 418 00:23:06,469 --> 00:23:08,430 (hopeful music) 419 00:23:19,858 --> 00:23:22,736 With this whole blood work that I did today, 420 00:23:22,777 --> 00:23:24,946 That's new information, you know, 421 00:23:24,988 --> 00:23:26,239 we'll see, is this another year of a commitment 422 00:23:26,281 --> 00:23:27,741 or am I done? 423 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:34,497 Nobody's mentioned it to me or told me, thank you. 424 00:23:34,539 --> 00:23:36,207 Thank you for your service (laughs). 425 00:23:37,834 --> 00:23:39,919 Here's that fruit basket, you know, nothing like that, 426 00:23:39,961 --> 00:23:41,004 so I never, it's stressful, 427 00:23:42,756 --> 00:23:46,426 and it always concerns me that, 428 00:23:46,468 --> 00:23:49,596 what if this whole situation that I've been involved with 429 00:23:49,637 --> 00:23:52,515 for the last year and a half is them selling it 430 00:23:55,143 --> 00:23:58,980 to some conglomerate or big pharma, 431 00:23:59,022 --> 00:24:01,816 and by my volunteering my time, and my body, 432 00:24:03,651 --> 00:24:07,864 and everything this last year, 433 00:24:07,906 --> 00:24:10,075 and then they benefited the billions and I don't know what 434 00:24:11,993 --> 00:24:13,244 it all means anymore, I don't. 435 00:24:16,331 --> 00:24:19,292 Being involved with this trial 436 00:24:19,334 --> 00:24:20,543 has made me even more baffled by the whole process. 437 00:24:34,683 --> 00:24:40,355 * 86,400 seconds in a day * 438 00:24:40,397 --> 00:24:45,193 * I swear lately, most of them have been a waste * 439 00:24:45,235 --> 00:24:50,240 * I feel them come and go, bury my mistakes. * 440 00:24:50,281 --> 00:24:53,785 * But time just goes on and on in a way * 441 00:24:53,827 --> 00:24:59,082 * if I had one day left to live, * 442 00:24:59,124 --> 00:25:03,920 * And if the stars went out on me, the truth is * 443 00:25:03,962 --> 00:25:06,673 * Yeah, There's so much I'd say and do * 444 00:25:09,259 --> 00:25:14,014 * If I nothing lose, nah, nothing to lose * 445 00:25:14,055 --> 00:25:16,516 * Oh, I'd call my mother and tell her I'm sorry * 446 00:25:16,558 --> 00:25:18,852 * And never call her back * 447 00:25:18,893 --> 00:25:21,354 * I'd pour my heart and soul out into a letter * 448 00:25:21,396 --> 00:25:24,524 * And send it to my dad * 449 00:25:24,566 --> 00:25:28,862 * Like, oh my god, the time I've wasted lost in my head, * 450 00:25:28,903 --> 00:25:31,406 * Let me leave this world with the hate behind me * 451 00:25:31,448 --> 00:25:33,366 * And take the love instead * 452 00:25:33,408 --> 00:25:37,704 * Give me only love, only love * 453 00:25:37,746 --> 00:25:41,082 * Give me only love, only love * 454 00:25:43,043 --> 00:25:48,548 * Give me only love, only love * 455 00:25:48,590 --> 00:25:51,384 * Let me leave this world with the hate behind me * 456 00:25:51,426 --> 00:25:53,345 * And take the love instead * 457 00:25:53,386 --> 00:25:56,014 * Give me only love, only love, only love * 458 00:25:58,475 --> 00:26:02,854 * Give me only love, only love * 459 00:26:02,896 --> 00:26:05,815 * Only love, only love, only love * 460 00:26:08,526 --> 00:26:10,403 * Let me leave this world with the hate behind me * 461 00:26:10,445 --> 00:26:13,365 * Only the love instead * 462 00:26:13,406 --> 00:26:15,408 * Let me leave this world with the hate behind me * 463 00:26:15,450 --> 00:26:17,410 * And take the love instead * 464 00:26:17,452 --> 00:26:19,788 * Give me only love, only love *