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A Quilt for David
The hidden history of a vulnerable gay man whose life and death were turned into tabloid fodder.
In the early 1990s, eight people living in a small conservative Florida town alleged that Dr. David Acer, their dentist, infected them with HIV. David's gayness, along with his sickly appearance from his own AIDS-related illness, made him the perfect scapegoat and victim of mob mentality. In these early years of the AIDS epidemic, when transmission was little understood, and homophobia rampant, people like David were villainized. Accuser Kimberly Bergalis landed a People magazine cover story, while others went on talk shows and made front page news.
With a poet's eulogistic and psychological intensity, Steven Reigns recovers the life and death of this man who also stands in for so many lives destroyed not only by HIV, but a diseased society that used stigma against the most vulnerable. It's impossible not to make connections between this story and how the twenty-first century pandemic has also been defined by medical misinformation and cultural bias.
Inspired by years of investigative research into the lives of David and those who denounced him, Reigns has stitched together a hauntingly poetic narrative that retraces an American history, questioning the fervor of his accusers, and recuperating a gay life previously shrouded in secrecy and shame.
In the early 1990s, eight people living in a small conservative Florida town alleged that Dr. David Acer, their dentist, infected them with HIV. David's gayness, along with his sickly appearance from his own AIDS-related illness, made him the perfect scapegoat and victim of mob mentality. In these early years of the AIDS epidemic, when transmission was little understood, and homophobia rampant, people like David were villainized. Accuser Kimberly Bergalis landed a People magazine cover story, while others went on talk shows and made front page news.
With a poet's eulogistic and psychological intensity, Steven Reigns recovers the life and death of this man who also stands in for so many lives destroyed not only by HIV, but a diseased society that used stigma against the most vulnerable. It's impossible not to make connections between this story and how the twenty-first century pandemic has also been defined by medical misinformation and cultural bias.
Inspired by years of investigative research into the lives of David and those who denounced him, Reigns has stitched together a hauntingly poetic narrative that retraces an American history, questioning the fervor of his accusers, and recuperating a gay life previously shrouded in secrecy and shame.
128 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2021
1 person is currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Steven Reigns
13 books20 followersSteven Reigns is a Los Angeles poet and educator and was appointed the first Poet Laureate of West Hollywood. Alongside over a dozen chapbooks, he has published the collections Inheritance and Your Dead Body is My Welcome Mat. Reigns holds a BA in Creative Writing from the University of South Florida, a Master of Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, and is a fourteen-time recipient of The Los Angeles County’s Department of Cultural Affairs’ Artist in Residency Grant. He edited My Life is Poetry, showcasing his students’ work from the first-ever autobiographical poetry workshop for LGBT seniors. Reigns has lectured and taught writing workshops around the country to LGBT youth and people living with HIV. Currently he is touring The Gay Rub, an exhibition of rubbings from LGBT landmarks, facilitates the monthly Lambda Lit Book Club, and is at work on a new collection of poetry.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 5, 2021
For #worldaidsday I started reading *A Quilt for David*, a series of prose poems seeking the truth of the story of David Acer, a gay dentist in Florida accused in 1990 of "infecting his patients with AIDS."
I came of age in the Midwest in the early 90s, at the time of David's death, but didn't come out as queer until I was almost 40. I feel tremendously committed to learning as much as possible about the AIDS epidemic, and I feel like the men who were at the eye of that hurricane are my ancestors. I am their legacy.
La.
I only meant to read the introduction last night but fell down a rabbit hole, reading over half the book and scouring the web for some of the articles referenced in the book. What a terrible, upsetting event.
But what an honor to learn about David and meet the author at his book release event in St. Louis a month ago. I know I have so much more to learn, but I appreciate every story, every retelling, every witness.
I came of age in the Midwest in the early 90s, at the time of David's death, but didn't come out as queer until I was almost 40. I feel tremendously committed to learning as much as possible about the AIDS epidemic, and I feel like the men who were at the eye of that hurricane are my ancestors. I am their legacy.
La.
I only meant to read the introduction last night but fell down a rabbit hole, reading over half the book and scouring the web for some of the articles referenced in the book. What a terrible, upsetting event.
But what an honor to learn about David and meet the author at his book release event in St. Louis a month ago. I know I have so much more to learn, but I appreciate every story, every retelling, every witness.
February 12, 2022
On September 3, 1990, Dr. David Acer, a dentist who worked in Jensen Beach, Florida, died from complications from AIDS. Four days after his death, Kimberly Bergalis, a young woman who was also HIV+, accused Dr. Acer of infecting her with the AIDS virus during a recent visit to his practice. Ms. Bergalis also claimed that she was a virgin and that the only way she could have become infected was through her contact with Dr. Acer. Ultimately, Ms. Bergalis was joined by seven other individuals who all claimed that their HIV infections were the result of being treated by Dr. Acer.
In spite of it being highly unlikely that the virus could be passed from doctor to patient during dental procedures, Ms. Bergalis’ accusations resulted in a media firestorm. And, Dr. Acer, who had died prior to the accusations, was never able to directly address them or defend himself and his actions. He was vilified in the press and popular culture and is now mostly forgotten. Ms. Bergalis was deified as a blameless victim with the media focusing on her claims of sexual purity. There are still monuments that were erected in memory of Ms. Bergalis in the Florida area, where both she and Dr. Acer lived and died.
In A Quilt for David, poet Steven Reigns examines and recreates the events surrounding Dr. Acer, and those who accused him. More importantly, he portrays the thoughts, fears, and motivations of all of those involved. He looks beyond the overly simplified labels applied by the media to create portraits of frightened people who clung desperately to a story that seemed flimsy three decades ago, and has become even more insubstantial with the passage of time, to hide the secrets they could not admit to themselves or others.
Reigns also provides a terrifying reminder of how facts and data were, and continue to be, overlooked when they are in conflict with people’s fears, anxieties, and beliefs. It is difficult to read about the wild accusations and political maneuvering of three decades ago and not be struck by the similarities that are playing out now as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thoughtful, thought-provoking, timely and long overdue, A Quilt for David provides the “other sides” of the story sensationalized in the press. Reigns stresses that, while there were some monstrous actions taken by some, none of the people involved were monsters.
Read an interview with the author here.
Reviewed by Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library,
In spite of it being highly unlikely that the virus could be passed from doctor to patient during dental procedures, Ms. Bergalis’ accusations resulted in a media firestorm. And, Dr. Acer, who had died prior to the accusations, was never able to directly address them or defend himself and his actions. He was vilified in the press and popular culture and is now mostly forgotten. Ms. Bergalis was deified as a blameless victim with the media focusing on her claims of sexual purity. There are still monuments that were erected in memory of Ms. Bergalis in the Florida area, where both she and Dr. Acer lived and died.
In A Quilt for David, poet Steven Reigns examines and recreates the events surrounding Dr. Acer, and those who accused him. More importantly, he portrays the thoughts, fears, and motivations of all of those involved. He looks beyond the overly simplified labels applied by the media to create portraits of frightened people who clung desperately to a story that seemed flimsy three decades ago, and has become even more insubstantial with the passage of time, to hide the secrets they could not admit to themselves or others.
Reigns also provides a terrifying reminder of how facts and data were, and continue to be, overlooked when they are in conflict with people’s fears, anxieties, and beliefs. It is difficult to read about the wild accusations and political maneuvering of three decades ago and not be struck by the similarities that are playing out now as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thoughtful, thought-provoking, timely and long overdue, A Quilt for David provides the “other sides” of the story sensationalized in the press. Reigns stresses that, while there were some monstrous actions taken by some, none of the people involved were monsters.
Read an interview with the author here.
Reviewed by Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library,
July 10, 2023
An insightful, poetic narrative on the life of dentist David Acer and the negative impact AIDS has on its victims. It revolves around a sort of letter from the author; Steven Reigns; to David and how his life did hold value and significance in history. The poetic writing morbidly explains both the physical and social harm that AIDS can have on people; with Reigns writing of ulcers forming and the isolation and shame forming within David illustrating the pain many victims go through. The writing is also playful and comical at times to make David feel like a normal citizen. Reigns notes how one acuser said that David passed the infection to her with no real evidence, and Reign writes, “If sex was the act that infected them, each one separately, did they ever call out his name in gratitude?”.
The book is an insightful history of AIDS history and how dehumanizing it left many feeling; and how scapegoating queer individuals satisfied a national consensus. It tells the story of David Acer and parallels the unfortunate story of thousands who endured unimaginable side effects from AIDS.
The book is an insightful history of AIDS history and how dehumanizing it left many feeling; and how scapegoating queer individuals satisfied a national consensus. It tells the story of David Acer and parallels the unfortunate story of thousands who endured unimaginable side effects from AIDS.
October 3, 2021
This is not the usual book I read, but after hearing about it on Pages Are Turning with Miles Montgomery I had to take a look. Written in poetry and proses, Steven Reigns, investigates and takes on a journey into the life of Dr. David Acer, the dentist accused of spreading HIV/AIDS to 7 of his patients. Reigns paints a picture of David's life, his work, and what happened after his death. He also writes about the people who accused David for their HIV positive status, the most famous being Kimberly Bergalis.
This was a quick, yet beautiful read into the life and times of the early AIDS pandemic. A true masterpiece and a beautiful tribute to David.
This was a quick, yet beautiful read into the life and times of the early AIDS pandemic. A true masterpiece and a beautiful tribute to David.
June 28, 2021
ARC given by Edelweiss+ for Honest Review
Heart-achingly raw and inspiring. Reading these poems broke my heart. It's always hard to talk and read about death and illness, but this was a story that needed and demanded to be told.
A Quilt For David is an important read for the younger generation of queer people to understand how far we have come, to learn from our elders who didn't make it. This is how we learn what to change so these tragedies never happen again.
Heart-achingly raw and inspiring. Reading these poems broke my heart. It's always hard to talk and read about death and illness, but this was a story that needed and demanded to be told.
A Quilt For David is an important read for the younger generation of queer people to understand how far we have come, to learn from our elders who didn't make it. This is how we learn what to change so these tragedies never happen again.
December 11, 2021
Poetry as biography in this genre building book. Compelling and necessary, bearing witness to hatred, suffering and vindication. Remarkable!
May 28, 2023
read this in the poetry room of city lights… oh so lovely and oh so tragic
September 8, 2024
I had completely forgotten about this horrible story (of a dentist accused of infecting his patients with HIV). It was good to be reminded of how bad things were back then. The book itself is just a collection of short word poems. Very glad I read it.
June 3, 2022
It wasn’t very substantive, but it was good, thought-provoking poetry
June 3, 2021
I had the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this heart-wrenching book of poetry. In this biography/poetry mashup the author makes a tragedy that might be too difficult to read accessible to all. This is an essential read especially for those involved in health policy, HIV / LGBTQ history, and queer activism!
June 25, 2021
Reigns is able to present a moving narrative poem concerning the dentist, David Acer, accused of infecting his patients with HIV in the 1980s. Using a extensive body of research, the poem's format works surprising well in presenting the state of the country's knowledge regarding HIV transmission, the misinformation and bias in the media, the history of the case, the assortment of characters and families involved, the media circus, the circumstances, and the aftermath. It's a very lot to depict in a poem, but the work is so very satisfying.
Thank you to Edelweiss/Above the Treeline for this free electronic copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thank you to Edelweiss/Above the Treeline for this free electronic copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 12, 2021
Steven Reigns did a great service writing this book of poetry, "A Quilt for David." David Acer was a dentist in a small town in Florida. A woman in town accused him of giving her AIDS and her accusation boomeranged to seven others who also accused him, all untrue. Yet, many of them got large settlements. This first young woman that accused him tried to initiate a law so HIV positive employees would be mandated to share their status with their patients. She lost, which is as it should be. It was a time when fear of AIDS was rampant, and it shows the discrimination, the hatred, and the prejudice against gay people and those of us living with HIV/AIDS.
There are a lot of players, the lawyer who went after the money, the group of accusers, the families; Steven Reigns interviewed many people in the town to get information. He did research, and the book opens with a preface and has several pages of footnotes at the end. He found connections to the young women being sexually active, despite her claim she was a virgin. She lied. Group hysteria and mob mentality turned on an HIV positive young man trying to live his life, who died from AIDS while he was under all this intensified pressure.
The poetry is great, the book is great, yet I wish it was a prose book exposé. I would have liked a kind of genealogy chart of all the players. I think a book of prose would eventually reach more readers. I had not heard of this case and I know a lot about AIDS having worked in the field 21 years, and I'm a poet. Like me, Steven Reigns worked in AIDS, he did HIV testing, education and counseling in the state where David Acer lived. He remembered the case from when he was in 8th grade.
The blurbs are great: CA Conrad, Sarah Schulman, Richard Blanco, Natalie Goldberg, big names. I hope this book is read by many, it's an important part of our history.
There are a lot of players, the lawyer who went after the money, the group of accusers, the families; Steven Reigns interviewed many people in the town to get information. He did research, and the book opens with a preface and has several pages of footnotes at the end. He found connections to the young women being sexually active, despite her claim she was a virgin. She lied. Group hysteria and mob mentality turned on an HIV positive young man trying to live his life, who died from AIDS while he was under all this intensified pressure.
The poetry is great, the book is great, yet I wish it was a prose book exposé. I would have liked a kind of genealogy chart of all the players. I think a book of prose would eventually reach more readers. I had not heard of this case and I know a lot about AIDS having worked in the field 21 years, and I'm a poet. Like me, Steven Reigns worked in AIDS, he did HIV testing, education and counseling in the state where David Acer lived. He remembered the case from when he was in 8th grade.
The blurbs are great: CA Conrad, Sarah Schulman, Richard Blanco, Natalie Goldberg, big names. I hope this book is read by many, it's an important part of our history.
November 16, 2021
Steven Reigns, a Los Angeles-based writer and psychotherapist who was the first official Poet Laureate of West Hollywood, blends literary genres to stunning effect in his spare and powerful new work, A Quilt for David. It’s a book that can fairly be classified as True Crime Poetry, deserving of shelf space alongside Maggie Nelson’s Jane: A Murder. In fewer than 100 pages, Reigns revisits the largely forgotten case of Dr. David Acer, a gay Florida dentist who, in the late 1980s, was accused by eight patients of infecting them with HIV. While Acer was never proven to be the source of their infection, he nonetheless was tried and handed a guilty sentence by an AIDS-phobic media, with one of his accusers, Kimberly Bergalis, even featured on the cover of People magazine. Reigns, who lived in Florida during the period of Acer’s public humiliation, has long been haunted by it. Over the course of 10 years, he returned there to scour local newspaper and government archives and to interview sources close to the story. Reigns’ findings infuse every taut line of this gut-punching prose poem, revealing previously unexposed shame and secrets that may have driven Acer’s patients to seek a scapegoat in their dentist, demonizing him for being gay, rather than having empathy for him as a fellow victim. Reigns slowly reveals many painful, poetic ironies in the lives of Acer, his patients, and the loved ones they left behind. This artistic relitigation of the Acer case offers readers a warning against hysteria, and is a call for compassion. It is a true American tragedy that bears reading, not repeating.
March 16, 2022
A beautiful eye opening poetry (prose?) book about a man who was to blame for infecting his patients with HIV. However, no one knows what the full story is, and no one was willing to give David a chance to speak. It was heartbreaking, but it was a misread. Give this one a chance.
NOTE: Used for the PopSugar 2022 challenge “A book that you can read in one sitting”
NOTE: Used for the PopSugar 2022 challenge “A book that you can read in one sitting”
October 5, 2021
This book hits you in the chest like a clapper striking an enormous bell. Now I'm just here, vibrating, as I try to absorb it all. I cannot recommend this book enough.
November 25, 2021
Beautiful and devastating.
January 28, 2022
Heartbreaking
March 29, 2022
Poetry that is not hard to follow along and written with so much care. I had not heard of David Acer’s story previous to this, but I am glad I did from Reigns.
December 8, 2021
6 star book.
this is a gut punch.
everything we were told was wrong and we didn't ask the right questions. Steven Reigns asked those questions and these poems are the answers.
you could get aides from dentists, that pretty and innocent girl in Florida did. so did other people. another excuse to not go to the dentist and another excuse to hate gays. People magazine and Jesse Helms and the republicans were like pigs in slop, they loved it.
But did Dr. Akers pass aides on to his patients? really really doubtful.
Brilliant poetry tells the cruel story of what was done to him and his family even a couple of accusers were hurt (one didn't present herself as a pure virgin saint and one was a black male - the martyrs lawyers and Helms liked)
this is a gut punch.
everything we were told was wrong and we didn't ask the right questions. Steven Reigns asked those questions and these poems are the answers.
you could get aides from dentists, that pretty and innocent girl in Florida did. so did other people. another excuse to not go to the dentist and another excuse to hate gays. People magazine and Jesse Helms and the republicans were like pigs in slop, they loved it.
But did Dr. Akers pass aides on to his patients? really really doubtful.
Brilliant poetry tells the cruel story of what was done to him and his family even a couple of accusers were hurt (one didn't present herself as a pure virgin saint and one was a black male - the martyrs lawyers and Helms liked)
August 16, 2023
Not sure what to think of this, it's poetry but doesn't read like poetry; it's a real life study of 1990's panic over HIV/AIDs, it's a depressing story of a Florida dentist with a closeted life and the
(so-called) victims who claimed he infected them with the AIDS virus, without apparent or conclusive evidence. At times it seems a bit biased but attempting to give all sides of a difficult case. It brought me back to recalling the awful years of the AIDS crisis and the barely concealed hatred of patients stricken with the virus. After coming out of the Coronavirus epidemic, it's depressing to realize half truths are still considerd as facts. The story of David Acer is another example of this demonization from all too common ignorance.
(so-called) victims who claimed he infected them with the AIDS virus, without apparent or conclusive evidence. At times it seems a bit biased but attempting to give all sides of a difficult case. It brought me back to recalling the awful years of the AIDS crisis and the barely concealed hatred of patients stricken with the virus. After coming out of the Coronavirus epidemic, it's depressing to realize half truths are still considerd as facts. The story of David Acer is another example of this demonization from all too common ignorance.
December 26, 2023
I disagree with comparing David & Mary Malloon, even if the conclusion was they weren’t anything alike. I also don’t like how ambiguous the ending was when it is very clear that David was not even remotely responsible.
However: this was well written and hard hitting.
My favorite section, p. 40:
It has been long advised
not to beat a dead horse.
Senator Jesse Helms
ignored the idiom.
Stated David and people like him
should be horsewhipped.
Said this long after
David was dead.
However: this was well written and hard hitting.
My favorite section, p. 40:
It has been long advised
not to beat a dead horse.
Senator Jesse Helms
ignored the idiom.
Stated David and people like him
should be horsewhipped.
Said this long after
David was dead.
December 9, 2024
This was a beautiful and moving book surrounding one man's reputation being destroyed because of his AIDS diagnosis. This was an important examination of queer history and allowing for David's story to be told. I'm thankful to have read this story.
December 4, 2024
Tragedy on top of tragedy. What an awful, shameful time.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews