Editing ACT UP (section)

=== Edinburgh ===
Formed in October 1989, by Kenny Lieske, Rob Archer and Tim Hopkins. Edinburgh had the highest number of HIV cases in Europe, most cases being among drug users.

Edinburgh ACT UP's first protest was on 1 December 1989, World AIDS Day  After a march along Princes Street ending in a rally where balloons were released. One black balloon was released for each person who had died in Scotland, and one white balloon for each person alive living with AIDS.

Edinburgh ACT UP's next action was actually in London, inside Wellcome's annual shareholders' meeting a year after ACT UP London's protest. It got extensive positive coverage in the Scottish print media (before<ref>The Scotsman 12 January 1990 page 7</ref> and after<ref>The Scotsman 17 January 1990 page 3</ref> the action) and likewise with the English quality newspapers.<ref>Capital Gay January 19th 1990 page 4</ref>

Edinburgh ACT UP's most successful campaign was to change how the government funded AIDS in Scotland. The AIDS budget was poorly allocated often not spent on AIDS services at all. The campaign was to target the funding where it was most needed prioritising regions with the most people with HIV. Edinburgh ACT UP's biggest protest blocked traffic outside of the Scottish Office. It attracted MPs and received extensive media coverage. Within a few months the government had capitulated.<ref>https://livingmemory.org.uk/rememberWhen/activism/ Tim Hopkins on ACT-UP</ref>