It's a Sin shows the vital role of community in supporting people at the end of life
**This blog contains spoilers for It's A Sin**
Channel 4's drama mini-series teaches us how, even in the darkest of circumstances, it's community which provides that vital consolation and relief as we die – and what can happen when it's not there.
Through one imaginary London household, Russell T Davies has written It's a Sin to tell the story of how the LGBTQ+ community had to rally together to care for one another in the absence of support from elsewhere during the AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s. They had to create a close-knit chosen family unit as they were shunned by their relatives, and to campaign to save their own lives as the government looked the other way.
This powerful sense of community extended to the care they gave to one another at the very end of life. The tender sadness and love of these moments shines through the series as we see again and again the characters taking shifts at bedsides, putting their own lives on hold and holding the hands of those that were dying so young.
(Credit: Channel 4)
Some of these moments that stand out the most are when Jill (Lydia West) is caring for Gloria (David Carlyle) in Episode 2. Although the burden of secrecy and misinformation about the disease weighs heavily on the scene, Jill's presence means there is some sense of it being shared. Later, we see the group taking shifts to support Colin's Mum (Andria Doherty) at Colin's bedside and finally when Jill and Roscoe (Omari Douglas) wait on standby in their B&B on the Isle of Wight as Richie (Olly Alexander) is dying.
Amidst the tragic misunderstandings about AIDS, the stigma associated with the disease, and the hateful homophobia in the air, we see how community support enriched the experience of end of life for the lucky few that weren't just whisked away to die alone and in shame by their family.
These scenes contrast starkly with what happens when that community support is missing. Sadly, dying away from their loved ones and support group was a common theme for gay men at the time and It's a Sin doesn't shy away from showing that.
Early on in the series, we see Henry (Neil Patrick Harris), as he lies dying in a spacious ward, alone. The door is locked, and his meals are placed behind a hatch at the bottom of the door for him to collect if he can find the strength. His care is anything but compassionate, and when he dies alone, the closing scene shows his body being lifted into a steel box before the PPE-clad nurses scrub and disinfect his bed.
One of the most painful moments of the series comes from Richie's mum's (Keeley Hawes) heart-breaking decision to tear the community around her son apart. She decides to stop Richie's friends from saying goodbye as she seeks to blame everyone around her for what's happening. As she reveals to Jill that Richie had been asking to see her, but is already dead, we feel the tragedy and pain of this irreparable act in Jill's reaction.
Many of the stories of shame, misconception and intolerance told in It's a Sin will resonate with those who lived at the height of the epidemic and survived. Many have a relationship with death that few have today.
One thing these experiences can teach us how essential it is to be as prepared as possible for death, to have important conversations with the people around while you can – so the community around you is as best prepared as they can be. The AIDS epidemic shows us the importance of having choice and autonomy at the end of life. To be able to die where you want, but crucially, to be surrounded by the people you choose.
You can watch It's A Sin on All4 now. Visit Terrence Higgins Trust for more information about HIV.
Learn more about planning for end of life .
Marie Curie's report Hiding who I am found that many LGBT people went back in the closet to make accessing healthcare easier.
