Love is Greater than AIDS: A Memoir of Survival, Healing, and Hope

Love is Greater than AIDS: A Memoir of Survival, Healing, and Hope is Rev. A. Stephen Pieter’s inspiring story of surviving AIDS and the notorious Suramin antiviral drug trial to lead a life of ministry, celebrity, LGBTQ+ and AIDS activism, and hope.

Format: Hardback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 05 March 2024
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

"Love is Greater than AIDS: A Memoir of Survival, Healing, and Hope" is the inspiring story of Rev. A. Stephen Pieters, who overcame AIDS and the notorious Suramin antiviral drug trial to lead a life of ministry, celebrity, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and hope.

The story begins with Pieter's 1985 interview with Tammy Faye Bakker on her TV show, "Tammys House Party," which catapulted him to national fame and made him a spokesperson for the AIDS community. He reflects on his childhood and college years, leading up to his coming-out story.

Soon after, he responds to a call to the ministry by attending seminary and then serving in Metropolitan Community Churches, a primarily LGBTQ+ denomination. In the late 1970s, Pieters became the gay activist pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford, Connecticut. There, he helped settle gay Cuban refugees from the Mariel boat lift and aided police investigations of the murders of two gay men.

Moving to Los Angeles in 1982, Steve experienced a long series of illnesses that led to his diagnosis with stage four lymphoma, Kaposis sarcoma, and AIDS in 1984. He was not expected to survive, but he defied his prognosis and became a well-known AIDS activist. He participated in several AIDS organizations in Los Angeles and across the country and spoke on behalf of people living with AIDS at both the first AIDS Walk in the world and at Elizabeth Taylor's Commitment to Life event, the first film and television industry fundraiser for AIDS. He also became Patient Number One on Suramin, the first antiviral drug trial to treat HIV/AIDS. Although his cancers go into complete remission, the drug nearly kills him. Steve is one of only two survivors of that notorious drug trial.

Having fully recovered from AIDS by 1987, Steve made AIDS ministry his life. For the next two decades, he served as the pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Santa Monica, California, where he continued to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and AIDS awareness. He also became a celebrity in his own right, appearing on numerous TV shows and documentaries and writing several books, including "Love is Greater than AIDS: A Memoir of Survival, Healing, and Hope."

In conclusion, "Love is Greater than AIDS: A Memoir of Survival, Healing, and Hope" is a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of Rev. A. Stephen Pieters. His story of overcoming adversity and living a life of purpose and meaning is an inspiration to all who read it.

Weight: 572g
Dimension: 235 x 159 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538186572