LA Times Reports - - Rock Hudson’s Ex-Lover Died

[+ ArVaGuy]

The Los Angeles Times reports that Marc Christian MacGinnis, ex-lover of Rock Hudson, died of pulmonary problems this past June. He was 56 years old. According to the report, his sister did not publicly announce his death out of a desire for privacy.

 

He had sued Hudson’s estate for over $10 million claiming that the actor had knowing exposed him to HIV without revealing his status. Christian claimed that he learned of Hudson’s illness like everyone else, via the news on television. He alleged severe mental distress and was awarded over $21million by a jury because of Hudson’s “outrageous conduct”. The award was later reduced to $5 million.

 

I well remember all of the media sensation over Rock Hudson dying of AIDS. When Hudson guest stared on Dynasty there was all that hoopla about how bad he looked. The National Enquirer had a field day over the scene with Linda Evans when he kissed her. I recall some headline like “Linda gets AIDS test!” or something like that to sell newspapers.

 

Here’s the link.

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-marc-christian5-2009dec05,0,1033777.story

[operalover21]

The Los Angeles Times reports that Marc Christian MacGinnis, ex-lover of Rock Hudson, died of pulmonary problems this past June. He was 56 years old. According to the report, his sister did not publicly announce his death out of a desire for privacy.

 

He had sued Hudson’s estate for over $10 million claiming that the actor had knowing exposed him to HIV without revealing his status. Christian claimed that he learned of Hudson’s illness like everyone else, via the news on television. He alleged severe mental distress and was awarded over $21million by a jury because of Hudson’s “outrageous conduct”. The award was later reduced to $5 million.

 

I well remember all of the media sensation over Rock Hudson dying of AIDS. When Hudson guest stared on Dynasty there was all that hoopla about how bad he looked. The National Enquirer had a field day over the scene with Linda Evans when he kissed her. I recall some headline like “Linda gets AIDS test!” or something like that to sell newspapers.

 

Here’s the link.

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-marc-christian5-2009dec05,0,1033777.story

 

This was reported in the Village Voice months ago but, apparently, no one took it seriously. I think Mr. Christian did the world a service but got condemned for it. What Hudson did was unthinkable and his estate should have had to pay. You absolutely must tell your partners something like this before having sex.

[operalover21]

The Los Angeles Times reports that Marc Christian MacGinnis, ex-lover of Rock Hudson, died of pulmonary problems this past June. He was 56 years old. According to the report, his sister did not publicly announce his death out of a desire for privacy.

 

He had sued Hudson’s estate for over $10 million claiming that the actor had knowing exposed him to HIV without revealing his status. Christian claimed that he learned of Hudson’s illness like everyone else, via the news on television. He alleged severe mental distress and was awarded over $21million by a jury because of Hudson’s “outrageous conduct”. The award was later reduced to $5 million.

 

I well remember all of the media sensation over Rock Hudson dying of AIDS. When Hudson guest stared on Dynasty there was all that hoopla about how bad he looked. The National Enquirer had a field day over the scene with Linda Evans when he kissed her. I recall some headline like “Linda gets AIDS test!” or something like that to sell newspapers.

 

Here’s the link.

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-marc-christian5-2009dec05,0,1033777.story

 

The best headline was in the Enquirer as I recall: "DIE-NASTY!"

[josephga]

This was reported in the Village Voice months ago but, apparently, no one took it seriously. I think Mr. Christian did the world a service but got condemned for it. What Hudson did was unthinkable and his estate should have had to pay. You absolutely must tell your partners something like this before having sex.

 

I agree 100% They had 6 women on oprah a few months back all hiv+ all 6 dated the same man. One of the ladies paid for his health insurance. He wasn't feeling well at some point and went in for an exam. She asked him after the physical if he passed all of the test including the hiv tests he lied and said yes, and kept on dating her as well as others on the side. The ladies told oprah they excepted fault in not using condoms but each thought they were the only one and in a committed relationship. He now sits in prison where he belongs.

[Luv2play]

It all happened a long time ago and I am hazy on the details but I seem to recall that Rock Hudson died around 1985. The cause of AIDs was only discovered a year or so earlier. In all likelihood Hudson had contracted the virus before the link was established. I don't remember when he entered into a relationship with Christian but I think it was before the cause of AIDs was established.

 

There was a lot of hysteria at the time about AIDs and people who had it were treated like lepers. Many still are. I always thought that lawsuit by Hudson's lover was a classless thing, particularly since he wasn't infected. Many people in established relationships at that time were devastated when AIDs claimed one of the partners. The surviving partner often felt guilt, although they shouldn't have. I don't recall anyone else suing their dead partner's estates.

 

Granted, later when people entered into sexual relationships after the cause of AIDs was established, a new obligation arose to inform your partners. But that was later. Anyway, I hadn't heard that the jury award was reduced to $5million. After lawyers fees, he wouldn't have got much. I'm glad.

[KMEM]

L2p-

 

I completely agree with your post. I am glad that you wrote it. It is exactly as I remember things being in those years and I was wondering if I remembered correctly, namely that we ALL did not know the full effects and results of AIDS. In other words, we were ignorant for quite some time after this happened.

 

Again, thanks.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

 

I do remember feeling sadness for RH and any he might have come into contact with but thought we all take our chances, don't we?

[operalover21]

It all happened a long time ago and I am hazy on the details but I seem to recall that Rock Hudson died around 1985. The cause of AIDs was only discovered a year or so earlier. In all likelihood Hudson had contracted the virus before the link was established. I don't remember when he entered into a relationship with Christian but I think it was before the cause of AIDs was established.

 

There was a lot of hysteria at the time about AIDs and people who had it were treated like lepers. Many still are. I always thought that lawsuit by Hudson's lover was a classless thing, particularly since he wasn't infected. Many people in established relationships at that time were devastated when AIDs claimed one of the partners. The surviving partner often felt guilt, although they shouldn't have. I don't recall anyone else suing their dead partner's estates.

 

Granted, later when people entered into sexual relationships after the cause of AIDs was established, a new obligation arose to inform your partners. But that was later. Anyway, I hadn't heard that the jury award was reduced to $5million. After lawyers fees, he wouldn't have got much. I'm glad.

 

It was clearly established during the trial that Rock Hudson and his associates knew that unprotected sexual activity was one way the AIDS virus was transmitted. Hudson knew this at the time he was having sex with Mr. Christian. He continued to have sex with Mr. Christian after the AIDS diagnosis and lied to him repeatedly about his illness (telling him he was on a diet, etc.). There is absolutely no way to justify what Hudson and his cronies did by not informing Mr. Christian. A jury and several appeals courts agreed.

 

Making excuses for Hudson now is ridiculous.

[Guest DuchessIvanaKizznhugg]

It was clearly established during the trial that Rock Hudson and his associates knew that unprotected sexual activity was one way the AIDS virus was transmitted.

 

Was it established that Mr. Christian knew this as well? I remember that period of time, and frankly, we eyed everyone as having the potential to be a "smoking gun".

If he was willing to rely on RH's word alone and not see test results, then I suggest he was complicit in the sexual behaviour that he allowed to occur between the two of them.

[Guest alanm]

There is absolutely no way to justify what Hudson and his cronies did by not informing Mr. Christian. A jury and several appeals courts agreed. Making excuses for Hudson now is ridiculous.

 

I agree completely. I suggest those who support Hudson read a book or two about what actually happened. Hudson and his circle were in denial in public, in private Rock Hudson was at the Pasteur Institute in the Montparnasse district of Paris looking for a miracle cure. I remember one of his cronies (still in damage control mode) saying after Hudson's death that he get sick as the result of a blood transfusion.

[KMEM]

Only in America do plaintiffs get paid for mental anguish. Doesn't the fact that MCC did NOT have AIDS and was not HIV+ mean any thing. I don't condone RH for his actions but it isn't completely clear to me that he or anyone else knew the full ramifications of what he had.

 

I don't kiss anyone when I have a cold because I think that is the right thing to do. RH should have had the same consideration but I don't know for sure he knew he was playing with a loaded gun and pointing it at his lover.

 

I suppose that is what makes the world go around, different opinions about the same "facts".

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[Guest alanm]

I don't kiss anyone when I have a cold because I think that is the right thing to do. RH should have had the same consideration but I don't know for sure he knew he was playing with a loaded gun and pointing it at his lover.

 

Paul Monette's memoir, "Borrow Time" is the story of caring for a beloved HIV-positive lover during this same period. Monette and his lover certainly understood what was going on. Certainly, Hudson's doctors would have told him that "he was playing with a loaded gun" if he had unprotected sex when he received the diagnosis in 1984.

[operalover21]

Was it established that Mr. Christian knew this as well? I remember that period of time, and frankly, we eyed everyone as having the potential to be a "smoking gun".

If he was willing to rely on RH's word alone and not see test results, then I suggest he was complicit in the sexual behaviour that he allowed to occur between the two of them.[/color][/size][/font]

 

This can't possibly be serious. The only people responsible here are Mr. Hudson and his cronies. You can't blame Mr. Christian for having sex with a man who was LYING to him at every opportunity. The responsibility to inform your sex partners that you have AIDS lies solely with the person who has AIDS. Period.

 

As gay men, we have to step up and responsibility. Blaming everyone but ourselves is not the answer. It's just pure head in the sand behavior. And total irresponsibility.

[operalover21]

Only in America do plaintiffs get paid for mental anguish. Doesn't the fact that MCC did NOT have AIDS and was not HIV+ mean any thing. I don't condone RH for his actions but it isn't completely clear to me that he or anyone else knew the full ramifications of what he had.

 

I don't kiss anyone when I have a cold because I think that is the right thing to do. RH should have had the same consideration but I don't know for sure he knew he was playing with a loaded gun and pointing it at his lover.

 

I suppose that is what makes the world go around, different opinions about the same "facts".

 

Best regards,

KMEM

 

He didn't at the time of the trial but that's not to say he wouldn't have developed the virus in the future. But that wasn't the point. It was the systematic lying of Hudson and his cronies that the court found completely reckless.

 

Equating having a cold with possibly infecting someone with the AIDS virus is so callous and so insidious an analogy that I have no idea what to say to that.

[Guest DuchessIvanaKizznhugg]

The responsibility to inform your sex partners that you have AIDS lies solely with the person who has AIDS.

 

Sorry, but I disagree with you on this one.

The responsibility to protect yourself starts with yourself.

 

I know I wouldn't take anyone's word for it.....especially at that time in the crisis.

I agree that RH acted way less than honourably, but Mr. Christian had a responsibility to protect himself, too.

 

People lie. That is the truth. To think otherwise and to place your health into the hands of someone you don't know is what I would call the ultimate in putting your head in the sand.

 

Mr. Christian may have been too trusting, but in my opinion he wasn't very smart.

[KMEM]

He didn't at the time of the trial but that's not to say he wouldn't have developed the virus in the future. But that wasn't the point. It was the systematic lying of Hudson and his cronies that the court found completely reckless.

 

Equating having a cold with possibly infecting someone with the AIDS virus is so callous and so insidious an analogy that I have no idea what to say to that.

 

Again, it is amazing to me that sometimes the same words have such different meanings for different people. I by no means intended to equate having a cold with being HIV+. I was simply stating that I try to avoid infecting others when having something as common as a cold.

 

I find what RH did reprehensible. However, I agree with Duchess who I believe was indicating that the lover should have had some care for his own welfare. Football players and others put themselves into harm's way for money, glory, fame or whatever but mainly money. Some of that had to be part of the deal with RH. That does not relieve RH of his repsonsibility but one cannot get run over if one does not play in the streets, can one?

 

Best regards,

KMEM