tom hanks in philadelphia. there was this thing that was tearing us apart which was the aids crisis. the pandemic that was aids. [ applause ] it was not just ripped right out of today s headlines, but it was getting into this more specific question of how do you respond to aids? i would not be standing here if it weren t for two very important men in my life. two that i haven t spoken with in awhile but i had the pleasure of just the other evening. mr. raleigh farnsworth was my high school acting teacher. one of my classmates under him, john gilkerson. two of the finest gay americans, two wonderful men. and there lies my dilemma here tonight. i know that my work in this case
out of today s headlines, but it was getting into this more specific question of how do you respond to aids? i would not be standing here if it weren t for two very important men in my life. two that i haven t spoken with in awhile but i had the pleasure of just the other evening. mr. raleigh farnsworth was my high school acting teacher. one of my classmates under him, john gilkerson. two of the finest gay americans, two wonderful men. and there lies my dilemma here tonight. i know that my work in this case is magnified by the fact that the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels. we know their names. they number 1,000 for each one of the red ribbons that we wear here tonight. there s this kid.