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| Agency |
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| I found my sense of agency in ACT UP. I found out who I was. I became who I could be because of ACT UP. It transformed me. I developed human skills and brain skills. It made me who I am. |
| Being in ACT UP changed the epidemic from something that was happening TO me, to something I could do about it. It was a really formative moment in my world framework. People I connected with inspired me to think anything is possible. I have political agency, can fight for beliefs. I was proud of being part of this group. |
| ACT UP was the most important thing I’ve ever done in my life. Those years were the least selfish, the most community-motivated. I also learned you never accept authority at the cost of discounting your own experience. It gave me a sense of purpose, of community, of hope - that something could be done. |
| After ACT UP, I felt able to change things |
| ACT UP made me step out of myself. I was shy and ACT UP gave me a voice. I felt I could make a change. I spoke from my heart, I did TV. I hadn’t known I could organize and lead. |
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| Empowerment |
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| It enhanced my sense of self-worth. I feel compelled to do something when I see something wrong. I feel responsible. I feel I need to improve the lot of others |
| I found my voice. I learned to speak up for myself and what was right. For the first time I learned to think critically. It was a huge boost to my self-esteem. I felt really proud of what I was doing. Finding my voice, finding I had something to give and effect change and I had a part in doing something that changed the world. |
| It changed my feelings about myself. It made me more confident, more outgoing. I was really fearless back then in my 20’s. Even if I never find it, I keep searching for the sense of purpose I had in ACT UP. |
| The experience changed my outlook, my sense of what I could accomplish, my view of the world, view of myself. It taught me I could do things I had no idea I could do. It taught me there were other people like me: smart, spiky, angry, fiercely committed. We had an effect. |
| It gave me confidence both socially and in my ability to motivate people. It felt empowering, being involved in something meaningful. I felt empowered we were going to save our friends’ lives, inspired by the combination of street smarts and intelligence. |
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| Personal growth |
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| Being a member of a group working at a high level, knowing I could operate at that level. Discovering in myself powers I didn’t know I had. |
| It made me much more confident and capable. I ended up more willing to try new things and try different directions. The skills I learned at ACT UP stayed with me. I believe in gay community and the importance of gay community, a bedrock belief that being gay matters, and I learned that at ACT UP. |
| It brought meaning to my life. It helped define, was part of my identity. I was proud to be part of ACT UP. It gave me a sense of purposefulness, feeling of use, self-worth. Now I can speak in front of a group of people and have the courage to say what I think. |
| It made me feel a better person, more serious, smarter, stronger. |
| Helped me define myself. I learned to respect that I have a voice, have my opinions, can work with others. Before, I didn’t think people listened to me. I no longer felt like a contagious person. It changed my thinking about myself. |
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