On this day in 1982, the acronym AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) was first proposed at a meeting in Washington.
The meeting brought together leaders of LGBT+ communities, health experts and representatives from the US Centers for Disease Control, who agreed that the term GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency) was misleading.
After the Centers for Disease Control identified a pattern of illnesses among gay men, researchers soon discovered the condition was also occurring in other populations, including haemophiliacs and intravenous drug users. There was also a high prevalence among Haitian immigrants, leading some doctors at the time to refer to it as the “4H disease”, a now-discredited term referring to homosexuals, heroin users, haemophiliacs and Haitians.
Initially, cases of what is now known to be HIV were identified among gay men in New York in 1981. However, within less than a year it had become clear that the disease was not confined to gay communities, leading to calls for a more accurate and inclusive name.
The following year, scientists identified the virus that would later become known as HIV.
While cases of HIV did not become widely recognised until the early 1980s, research conducted in the decades since has established that the virus likely emerged in Africa in the 1920s. Studies have also shown that HIV was being transmitted in New York from the early 1970s.
Irish singer Sinead O’Connor dies
In 1990, the Irish singer topped charts around the world with her recording of Nothing Compares 2 U, a song written by Prince that became her signature hit.
O’Connor’s family announced her death in a statement but did not reveal the cause.
In 1987, Sinéad O’Connor released her debut album The Lion and the Cobra, which received critical acclaim and established her as a rising star.
However, it was her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, released in 1990, that catapulted her to international fame. The album’s lead single, Nothing Compares 2 U, had originally been written by Prince and recorded by his Paisley Park band, The Family.
O’Connor’s version became a massive hit and remains one of her best-known recordings. The emotional intensity of her performances and her distinctive shaved head became trademarks of her public image. Prince later recorded his own version of the song.
Beyond her musical success, O’Connor became known for her outspoken views on social and political issues, including child abuse, women’s rights and the influence of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Her decision to tear up a photograph of Pope John Paul II during a live television appearance in 1992 sparked both admiration and backlash. While the act proved controversial at the time, many later viewed it as an early protest against abuse within religious institutions.
Throughout her life, O’Connor spoke openly about her experiences with mental ill health, helping to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues.
Her work extended far beyond her biggest hit. Across 10 studio albums she explored a wide range of musical styles. Her recordings included the jazz-influenced Am I Not Your Girl?, the traditional Irish collection Sean-Nós Nua, and the reggae album Throw Down Your Arms.
Her final studio album, I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss, was released in 2014. She continued releasing music in subsequent years, including Trouble of the World in 2020.
O’Connor also collaborated with numerous artists, including Massive Attack, Jah Wobble, Manu Dibango, Asian Dub Foundation, Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Bomb the Bass and Ian Brown.
In a 2000 interview with Curve magazine, O’Connor described herself as a lesbian before later revisiting that description. In a 2005 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said: “I’m three-quarters heterosexual, a quarter gay.”
Much of O’Connor’s work explored her relationship with Catholicism. In 2018 she converted to Islam, describing it as “the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey”, and adopted the name Shuhada Sadaqat.
O’Connor was married four times and had four children. Her son Jake Reynolds was born in 1987. She later had daughter Roisin Waters with Irish journalist John Waters, son Shane Lunny with musician Donal Lunny, and son Yeshua Bonadio with Frank Bonadio.
In January 2022, her son Shane died by suicide at the age of 17.
Tributes following her death came from musicians around the world. Tori Amos described O’Connor as a “force of nature”, while Billy Bragg said she was “braver than brave”. Tributes also came from Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Bryan Adams and Wendy James.
Irish President Michael D. Higgins praised O’Connor’s authenticity and talent.
“To those of us who had the privilege of knowing her, one couldn’t but always be struck by the depth of her fearless commitment to the important issues that she brought to public attention, no matter how uncomfortable those truths may have been.”
He described O’Connor as one of Ireland’s greatest contemporary songwriters and performers, noting her unique connection with audiences around the world.
