Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South book cover featuring archival ACT UP Shreveport protest imagery and original documentary-inspired design elements. Cover design created for the 2026 release of the book by Dr. David W. Hylan. Courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members carry the organization's banner at the front of the "Storm the NIH" protest in Washington, D.C., joining a national call for faster action, expanded drug access, and accountability during the AIDS epidemic. Pictured left to right: Gary Cathey, Alana Oldham, Chuck Selber, and Robert Darrow. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Gary Cathey, Justin Normand, and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members marching during the height of the AIDS crisis, carrying the iconic "Silence=Death" banner and signs reading "NIH = National Institutes of Healthcare." Original cover photograph for Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Robert Darrow raises his fist among fellow demonstrators during the "Storm the NIH" protest, part of a national ACT UP demonstration demanding faster medical research, expanded treatment access, and greater government accountability during the AIDS epidemic. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

CNN Headline News coverage of the "Storm the NIH" protest repeatedly broadcast footage of ACT UP Shreveport members Robert Darrow and Alana Oldham at the front of the national demonstration, bringing rare national visibility to activists from Northwest Louisiana during the AIDS crisis. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of CNN Headline News and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Robert Darrow holds an effigy of Anthony Fauci during the "Storm the NIH" protest, part of a national ACT UP demonstration demanding faster government action, expanded drug access, and greater accountability during the AIDS crisis. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Chuck Selber pushes Richard Kightlinger in a wheelchair through an AIDS Quilt display at the Bossier City Civic Center, where more than 850 memorial panels honored lives lost to the epidemic and transformed grief into public remembrance and activism. (c. 1991). Photo courtesy of Richard Kightlinger and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

During a Ku Klux Klan rally at the Caddo Parish Courthouse, Kirk Pickett kisses a fellow ACT UP protester in an act of defiance against hate, intolerance, and anti-LGBTQ+ extremism. The moment became a striking image of resistance and visibility in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 1993). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Chuck Selber, early ACT UP Shreveport member and activist whose fierce advocacy and uncompromising voice became central to the organization's fight against stigma, silence, and political indifference during the AIDS crisis. (c. 1987). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow, Kay Zeidman, and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Robert Darrow, early ACT UP Shreveport member and activist whose lifelong advocacy and firsthand experience living with HIV helped shape both the organization's mission and its enduring legacy. (c. 2026). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Gary Cathey, founding ACT UP Shreveport member and AIDS activist whose work helped bring visibility, compassion, and public pressure to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Gary Cathey, Justin Normand, and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Alana Oldham, early ACT UP Shreveport member and activist whose voice and advocacy helped challenge silence, stigma, and fear during the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 2026). Photo courtesy of Alana Oldham and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Buddy Williamson, early ACT UP Shreveport member and activist whose advocacy and public voice helped challenge silence, stigma, and political indifference during the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 2026). Photo courtesy of Buddy Williamson and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Joe DeSantis, early ACT UP Shreveport member and activist whose outspoken presence reflected the urgency, anger, and determination that defined ACT UP's fight against AIDS in the Deep South. (c. 1991). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Deborah Allen, early ACT UP Shreveport member and activist whose advocacy helped confront stigma, misinformation, and political silence surrounding the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Deborah Allen and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Kirk Pickett, early ACT UP Shreveport member and activist whose involvement helped strengthen the organization's growing visibility during the height of the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 1991). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Dr. David W. Hylan, award-winning documentary filmmaker, LGBTQ+ activist, and co-director of Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South. Photo courtesy of David Hylan and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Cecil Thad Coburn, Chuck Selber, and Buddy Williamson at the first ACT UP Shreveport meeting, where activists gathered to organize a local response to the growing AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 1989). Photo courtesy of Deborah Allen and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members and supporters gather during a fundraising benefit at Enoch's Bar in Shreveport, reflecting the organization's early efforts to build community, visibility, and financial support during the height of the AIDS crisis. Pictured: Buddy Williamson, Domingo Leija, Robert Darrow, Dorothy Prime, Chuck Selber, Barton Gross, Joe DeSantis, Bianca Welsh, Deborah Harold Allen, Joey Celmer, Kenny King, Tracy Murrel, Gary Cathey, Bonnie Parks, Erin Harold, and Alana Oldham. (c. 1989). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members gather for a strategy meeting during the height of the AIDS crisis. Back row, left to right: Dale Lancaster, Richard Kightlinger, Chuck Selber, Royce Stoope, Kirk Pickett, Kenny King, Deborah Harold Allen, Domingo Leija, and Cecil Thad Coburn. Front row: Joe DeSantis, James Smith, and an unidentified participant. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Chuck Selber staffs an ACT UP Shreveport information booth, part of the organization's ongoing efforts to educate the public, combat misinformation, and increase awareness about HIV/AIDS in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Deborah Allen and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport protest flier distributed outside The Shreveport Times after the newspaper continued using the term "victim(s)" in its AIDS coverage despite repeated objections from activists and people living with HIV/AIDS. The campaign reflected ACT UP's broader fight against stigmatizing language in the media. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP mayoral forum at B'nai Zion Temple in Shreveport, Louisiana, where mayoral candidates faced questions from activists and community members demanding accountability during the AIDS crisis. The event reflected ACT UP Shreveport's growing political visibility and refusal to remain silent. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Kenny King speaks to members of the news media during an ACT UP Shreveport action, helping bring public attention to the growing AIDS crisis and the organization's demands for dignity, awareness, and political accountability. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Robert Darrow speaks during a Northwest Louisiana AIDS Consortium meeting, challenging public officials and healthcare leaders to respond more urgently and compassionately to the growing AIDS crisis. (c. 1991). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Robert Darrow addresses the Caddo Parish School Board in opposition to the proposed "Sex Respect" curriculum, advocating for medically accurate HIV/AIDS education and challenging policies rooted in fear, stigma, and misinformation. (c. 1993). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP activists Gewel White, Kenny King, Deborah Allen, and Joe DeSantis speak at a press conference demanding the resignation of the LSU Medical Center chancellor during the height of the AIDS crisis, reflecting growing outrage over the treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Chuck Selber, founding ACT UP Shreveport member and activist, speaks at a press conference demanding the resignation of the LSU Medical Center chancellor amid mounting outrage over the treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS. (c. 1988). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members hold a press conference demanding the resignation of the LSU Medical Center chancellor amid growing outrage over the treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana hospitals. Pictured left to right: Robert Darrow, Alana Oldham, Chuck Selber, Gewel White, and Kenny King. Not pictured: Deborah Harold Allen and Joe DeSantis. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport activists protest Miller Beer outside Thrifty Liquor on Youree Drive after Philip Morris, the parent company of Miller Beer, supported Senator Jesse Helms, a leading political opponent of LGBTQ+ rights and AIDS funding initiatives. The demonstration reflected ACT UP's growing use of economic protest and public visibility to challenge anti-LGBTQ+ political influence. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members participate in a sit-in protest at the Pickle Barrel following the firing of Vern Ransburg, an action that highlighted the organization's willingness to confront discrimination and defend members of the LGBTQ+ community through direct action. Pictured: Joe DeSantis, Deborah Harold Allen, Judy Blue, Richard Kightlinger, Anthony Williams, Buddy Williamson, and Chuck Selber. Not pictured: Alana Oldham, Robert Darrow, Bruce Young, and Gray. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Deborah Allen and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP activists participate in a protest in New Orleans during the height of the AIDS crisis. Alana Oldham is pictured second from the right, wearing a black T-shirt and blue shorts. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members participate in a protest outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, demanding greater urgency and accountability in the national response to the AIDS epidemic. Robert Darrow, left of center, carries a sign reading "Jewel White Died…" in memory of a fellow activist lost to AIDS. (c. 1990). Photo credit: Dwight Ross, Jr.

ACT UP Shreveport members travel to the "Storm the NIH" protest in Washington, D.C., joining activists from across the country to demand faster action in response to the AIDS epidemic. Pictured left to right: Joe DeSantis, Gary Cathey, Alana Oldham, and Chuck Selber. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Alana Oldham and Joe DeSantis join fellow demonstrators during the "Storm the NIH" protest, part of a national ACT UP demonstration demanding faster government action, expanded drug access, and increased urgency in response to the AIDS epidemic. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members Robert Darrow and Alana Oldham participate in the "Storm the NIH" protest in Washington, D.C., joining activists from across the country to demand faster government action, expanded drug access, and greater accountability during the AIDS epidemic. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Gary Cathey, founding ACT UP Shreveport member, hand-delivers a letter to Congressman Jim McCrery at his Shreveport congressional office as part of ACT UP's ongoing efforts to pressure elected officials for stronger action on HIV/AIDS policy and funding. (c. 1992). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Gary Cathey, far right, speaks with reporters during ACT UP Shreveport's public outing of Congressman Jim McCrery, an action intended to force national attention onto what activists viewed as political hypocrisy surrounding HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ issues. The protest became one of the organization's most controversial and widely discussed actions. (c. 1992). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

During the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, Gary Cathey delivers a personal letter to a staff member in Congressman Jim McCrery's office, continuing ACT UP Shreveport's efforts to confront elected officials over HIV/AIDS policy and LGBTQ+ rights. (c. 1993). Photo courtesy of Gary Cathey, Justin Normand, and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

During the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, Justin Normand and Gary Cathey display an oversized three-dollar bill featuring Congressman Jim McCrery, using political satire to challenge what activists viewed as hypocrisy surrounding HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ issues. The image invoked the phrase "fake as a three-dollar bill" as part of ACT UP Shreveport's broader protest campaign. (c. 1993). Photo courtesy of Gary Cathey, Justin Normand and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members participate in a provocative protest action targeting a U.S. Senate campaign bumper sticker for David Duke, part of a broader effort to oppose his political rise and challenge racism, homophobia, and extremist ideology in Louisiana politics. Members of the local LGBTQ+ community were invited to take part in the demonstration. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Gary Cathey, Justin Normand, and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Performers and supporters gather during a Philadelphia Center fundraiser at the Florentine Club, reflecting the role of community events and drag performance in raising awareness and support during the AIDS crisis. Pictured: Galen Alford (Blare Colby), Kenny King ("Kandi DeTale"), Richard Kightlinger ("Frankie"), and James Smith ("Sassy"). (c. 1989). Photo credit: Kirk Pickett. Photo courtesy of Kenny King, Richard Kightlinger, and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members and supporters gather for a Christmas party and fundraiser at the Florentine Club, combining celebration, community, and activism during the height of the AIDS crisis. Pictured left to right: Chuck Selber, Deborah Harold Allen, and Billy Smith. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Deborah Allen, Robert Darrow, and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP New Year's Eve party at Chuck Selber's home (1990). Left to right: Deborah Harold Allen, Buddy Williamson, Chris Free, Chuck Selber, and Vern Ransburg. Photo courtesy of Deborah Allen and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Alana Oldham, Deborah Allen, and Bill Lindsey attend "A Day Without Art" at the Turner Art Center at Centenary College, where Deborah Allen and Catfood Mary's film was presented as the event's sole featured work, reflecting the growing intersection of art, activism, and AIDS awareness in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 1990). Photo courtesy of Deborah Allen and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

The Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt is displayed at the Bossier Civic Center, transforming the public space into a powerful memorial honoring lives lost to the AIDS epidemic while raising awareness, visibility, and compassion within the Northwest Louisiana community. (c. 1991). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Chuck Selber's AIDS Memorial Quilt panel, created in the summer of 1993 by his oldest niece, Jill Selber Handaly, together with other family members following his death from AIDS-related illness. The panel was presented during the 1993 World AIDS Day observance at the Jewish Community Center in Shreveport, where family members helped transform personal grief into public remembrance and advocacy. (c. 1993). Photo courtesy of Robert Darrow and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Family members hold Chuck Selber's AIDS Memorial Quilt panel, honoring his life, activism, and legacy following his death from AIDS-related illness. Pictured left to right: Leslie Zeidman Snelgrove, Nancy Zeidman Accardo (front), Jill Selber Handaly, Sandy Selber Sturm, Mark Zeidman, and Jay Zeidman. (c. 1993). Photo courtesy of Kay Zeidman and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Irving and Flo Selber, parents of ACT UP Shreveport activist Chuck Selber, pictured years before the AIDS crisis would profoundly shape their family's life and advocacy. (c. 1979). Photo courtesy of Kay Zeidman and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Flo Selber, mother of ACT UP Shreveport activist Chuck Selber, during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on advocacy, loss, and her support for families affected by HIV/AIDS during the epidemic. (c. 2015). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Bill and Jean Darrow, parents of Robert Darrow, during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on family, fear, resilience, and the realities faced by parents of people living with HIV/AIDS during the epidemic. (c. 2015). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, where many people living with AIDS reported neglect, discrimination, and inhumane treatment during the epidemic's early years. The facility later became a focal point for ACT UP Shreveport protests and demands for accountability. (c. 2006). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Recording session at The Nook Studio in Los Angeles, California, during narration production for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South. Pictured left to right: Raydra Hall, Lance Bass, and Dr. David W. Hylan during the recording of Bass's narration for the film. (c. 2016). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

David W. Hylan conducts an interview during production of the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, documenting firsthand accounts of activism, survival, and resistance during the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 2016). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

ACT UP Shreveport members gather during a group interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on activism, survival, and the lasting impact of the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. Pictured left to right: Alana Oldham, Gary Cathey, Buddy Williamson, Deborah Allen, and Robert Darrow. (c. 2016). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Gary Cathey during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on the history of ACT UP Shreveport and the struggle for AIDS awareness and equality in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 2015). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Alana Oldham during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on activism, community organizing, and the personal toll of the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 2016). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Robert Darrow during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on survival, activism, the fight for dignity and medical accountability during the AIDS crisis, and his appointment as the first executive director of The Philadelphia Center. (c. 2013). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Buddy Williamson during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on activism, public advocacy, and the struggle for visibility and compassion during the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 2013). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

James Smith during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on nursing, activism, and the personal and professional challenges of caring for people living with HIV/AIDS during the epidemic's early years. (c. 2016). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Mark Anthony "Marquita" Lindsey during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on identity, activism, and survival during the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana. (c. 2015). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Mical DeBrow during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, sharing personal reflections on activism, community, and the lasting impact of the AIDS crisis in Louisiana. (c. 2016). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Gloria DeSantis and DeDe DeSantis McClamroch during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on family, loss, and the human toll of the AIDS crisis in Louisiana. (c. 2015). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Micah Harold and Ashley Hazelton during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, discussing the continuing impact of HIV/AIDS advocacy, the legacy of ACT UP Shreveport, and their experiences growing up in a home that encouraged activism and the importance of living one's truth. (c. 2016). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Gerardo J. Negron, MD, during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, discussing the medical realities of the AIDS crisis and the challenges faced by patients and healthcare providers in Louisiana during the epidemic's early years. (c. 2015). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Marcus Spurlock, MD, during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, discussing the medical response to HIV/AIDS, the challenges faced by physicians during the height of the epidemic in Louisiana, and the early years of founding The Philadelphia Center. (c. 2015). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Bryan Sullivan during an interview for the documentary Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, reflecting on community response, activism, the lasting impact of the AIDS crisis in Northwest Louisiana, and his various leadership roles within the organization. (c. 2015). Photo courtesy of the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.

Mark S. King, GLAAD Media Award-winning writer and author of My Fabulous Disease: Chronicles of a Gay Survivor, wrote the foreword for Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South. King is widely recognized for his decades of HIV/AIDS advocacy, journalism, and public education work. (c. 2025). Photo courtesy of Mark S. King.

The Philadelphia Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, founded during the AIDS crisis and widely regarded as one of the lasting legacies of ACT UP Shreveport. The organization continues to provide advocacy, support services, education, and compassionate care for people living with HIV/AIDS throughout Northwest Louisiana. (c. 2026). Photo courtesy of The Philadelphia Center and the Small Town Rage Preservation Project Archive.