XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington D.C. Hillary Clinton holds a speech about the political tasks of ending AIDS. Phil Wilson, founder of the Black AIDS Institute, speaks about the challenges of the communities to put an end to the epidemic.

This film tells the US story of the AIDS epidemic starting in the early 1980's. Scientists and activists, both pioneers and youths of today, talk about research, prevention, treatment and care. They also discuss stigma, homophobia and poverty as closely related to HIV and AIDS.

The primary focus of this documentary is on the history of how the AIDS epidemic started in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York in 1981. Many different stories are told about people affected or surrounded by HIV and AIDS in the early years of the epidemic.