Editing Longtime Companion (section)

===July 3, 1981===
Willy, a [[personal trainer]], and his friend John are spending time with affluent gay couple David and Sean at their beach house on [[Fire Island]] for the [[Independence Day (United States)|4th of July]]. Sean is a screenwriter for the popular daytime [[soap opera]] ''Other People'' and David comes from a [[Nobility#"Blue" blood|blue blood]] background and has a large [[trust fund]]. Back in the city, Howard is preparing to audition for Sean's soap. His boyfriend is Paul, a [[business executive]], and their next-door neighbor is Lisa, an [[antiques dealer]], whose brother Fuzzy is a lawyer who represents Howard.

That morning, ''The New York Times'' publishes its first article about the rise of a new "[[Kaposi's sarcoma|gay cancer]]". The news spreads as friends call each other. Some are immediately concerned, others dismissive. Willy meets Fuzzy at a [[tea dance]] later in the afternoon and they begin a relationship. Howard lands the role.