Jay Blotcher dedicated himself to representing the lives of gays and lesbians through his work as a journalist, publicist, freelance writer, film producer, and activist. His committment to queer activism appeared immediately in his work; his third article for his college newspaper, "The Daily Orange," was a feature on the Gay Student Organization. Queer issues and AIDS activism permeated Blotcher's professional work leading him to represent The American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR), Michelangelo Signorile and numerous other individuals and grassroots organizations. Blotcher's activism intensified when he began work on AIDS issues. In 1987 he joined ACT UP/New York and represented the group at the International AIDS Conferences in Montreal, Amersterdam and Yokohama and served as Media Coordinator for the organization from 1989-1990. Blotcher was a founding member and Media Coordinator for Queer Nation/New York and the executive producer of the Anti-Violence Campaign. Through this professional and activist involvement Jay Blotcher placed himself at the center of AIDS and queer activism in New York and internationally making this collection of great importance to understanding the political environment of the 1990s.