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The day that Larry Kramer died of pneumonia, the powers that be took one last swipe at him.
But his often abusive approach could overshadow his achievements.
And look what happened, saidSarah Schulman, the author and fellow activist.
They slapped him back even on the day of his death.
No one would argue that Kramer was easy to work with.
In a 2009New Yorkprofile, Jesse Green asked, Why has this man not been awarded a Nobel Prize?
One reason is our historical amnesia about queer achievements, Green said.
Another is: They dont have a category for pains in the ass.
He was a shouter, a railer, a perpetual emotion machine.
Her list goes on.
And although he was very frustrating, says Schulman, many activists are still very emotionally connected to him.
That connection could weather even his Sturm und Drang,Schulman says.
she says, laughing I think.
And there was also, deep in the root, an understanding of performance.
Yet Kramer knew that there was a theatrical function to his flashpoint explosiveness.
The Normal Heartis one of the centurys great plays, a teaching drama that actually changed minds.
And its true thatThe Normal Heartreads like a medieval morality play, the double Passion of Ned Weeks.
ButThe Normal Heartworks, as a playandas a screed.
You should readThe Normal Heartfor a thousand reasons, the first of which is to honor Kramer.
But you will want to read it for yourself as well.
Kramer certainly never thought the plays work was done.
In 2005, he stood outside the Golden Theatre, handing out leaflets.
When the action of the play you have just seen begins, there were 41.
Reading that, I thought God, even on the day he died, his voice still carries.
Hes shouting at us right now.Fight or die.
