Ep. 273: 9/11 Hero's Hidden Story: HIV, Survival Sex Work & Redemption | Neil Adams

Author Neil Adams joins the show to talk about his memoir chronicling the extraordinary life of his late best friend, Michael Dorian — a veterinary technician who talked his way past the barricades on 9/11 to help exhausted firefighters at Ground Zero, despite having no medical credentials and living with HIV.

Neil traces Michael's story from a chaotic childhood in the Bronx, through an HIV diagnosis at 16, to the found-family relationship that helped him finish school and rebuild his life. They discuss how Michael juggled relationships while managing his status, the guilt he carried over unknowingly transmitting HIV to a partner, and how his 24 hours at the pile on 9/11 ultimately led to a rare cancer diagnosis nearly two decades later.

Zach shares his own experience being inside the World Financial Center on 9/11, and the two reflect on the fight for Victims Compensation Fund recognition, Michael's NYPD Medal of Valor, his appearance in Spike Lee's 9/11 documentary, and why preserving LGBTQ+ history — including the realities of the AIDS crisis — still matters today.

Guest: Neil Adams, author
Website: readneiladams.com
Topics: 9/11 first responders, HIV/AIDS history, LGBTQ+ memoir, chosen family, Victims Compensation Fund

Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com 

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ

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