Born in 1954, Cleve Jones grew up in a world where being gay meant isolation. Drawn to San Francisco in the 1970s, he found a community alive with political activism and sexual liberation. Guided by Harvey Milk, Jones embraced “the movement,” only to have his life forever changed by Milk’s assassination and the devastating arrival of AIDS.
In When We Rise, Jones shares his extraordinary journey—from co-founding the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to conceiving the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the largest community art project in history. He chronicles love, loss, and the relentless fight for LGBTQ rights, capturing the heartbreak and joy of a transformative era.
This Lambda Literary Award–winning memoir is both a deeply personal story and an inspiring account of a life devoted to change.
