Les Taylor interviewed by James Waites

Leslie Taylor, born in New Zealand in 1951, moved to Australia in 1981 and was diagnosed with HIV in 1985. A long-term survivor, he became a prominent advocate in Victoria’s HIV response. Before diagnosis, he worked as a union official. His activism began with the Victorian AIDS Action Committee (later the Victorian AIDS Council, VAC) in 1983, where he joined the first AB Positive support group. Taylor was a public spokesperson for the AZT Task Force, leading high-profile actions against pharmaceutical pricing, and was instrumental in establishing People Living with AIDS Victoria (PLWAV). He was critical of bureaucratic tendencies in HIV organisations and stressed the need for PLHIV-led initiatives. His account reflects the emotional toll of losing many friends, the fear of transmission, changes to personal relationships, and the determination to live fully despite illness. • 1992 Nov. 23 • 1 digital audio tape (ca. 29 min.)