# Randy Shilts San Francisco Chronicle journalist (1951–1994), the first openly gay reporter covering gay issues at a major American daily. His ***And the Band Played On*** (1987) is the definitive chronicle of the [[AIDS Crisis]]'s early years — indicting the Reagan administration, the blood banks, the media, and parts of gay political leadership alike for the catastrophe's preventability. Also wrote *The Mayor of Castro Street* (Harvey Milk) and *Conduct Unbecoming* (gays in the military). Died of AIDS at 42 in February 1994. See [[AIDS Crisis Timeline]]. ## See Also - [[AIDS Crisis Timeline]]