ABSTRACT
Examples of multiple deaths and the many other losses in the gay community are forerunners of what other communities will face as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) continues its course. Many of the experiences in the gay community are representative of all multiple loss issues surrounding people who are stigmatized and discriminated against because they have human immune deficiency virus/AIDS. The responses seen in survivors are more like what is seen in post-traumatic stress where people tend to feel numb and detached and have limited interest in pursuing goals or new relationships. The increasing number of survivors dealing with the ever increasing deaths from AIDS need a clear definition of the meaning of multiple loss; a constellation of physical, emotional, and psychosocial issues swirling around waiting to be defined and understood. Survivors may be conflicted as they become aware of feelings of isolation and abandonment while simultaneously withdrawing from social support networks.
