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Shilts finally addresses his addiction to alcohol and marijuana, including in-patient rehabilitation and Alcoholics Anonymous. Shilts grapples with the death of his friend Gary Walsh from AIDS, and the unexpected death of his mother. Shilts offers a first-person account of physical abuse he suffered as a child for an anthology edited by actor Suzanne Somers. Shilts is passed over for inclusion in the documentary version on the life of Harvey Milk, while rights sold to his Milk bio languish and a film is never produced.

Shilts’s journalistic “voice” begins to emerge. Shilts’s clash with David Goodstein comes to a head, with Shilts fired from The Advocate but later hired by KQED as a contributor to the “Newsroom” TV program. Shilts begins to address his personal alcohol abuse issues amidst lack of full-time employment but remains a daily marijuana user. Shilts’s TV journalism career covers election and subsequent assassination of Milk (along with Mayor George Moscone), and gay battle against Proposition 6. Shilts covered riots following the trial of convicted Milk-Moscone killer Dan White. Shilts’s relationship with KQED begins to erode as he struggles to master television journalism. Shilts gains scorn for connections to conservative Republican Senator John Briggs.

Shilts makes the decision to publicly disclose for the first time that he is HIV positive. Shilts’s growing health struggles come quickly as he is then diagnosed as having AIDS. Shilts views as problematic the focus on his HIV status rather than the release of his new book, “Conduct Unbecoming.” Shilts has to limit his book tour to media interviews due to his declining health. The veracity with which Shilts answered earlier questions about his HIV status is explored; along with the ethics of what level of personal disclosure, gay men (or reporters) owe others. “Conduct Unbecoming” becomes a central part of the gay military ban discussion as movie rights to “And the Band Played On” are sold to HBO.

One of Shilts’s last interviews, with Steve Kroft from CBS’ 60 Minutes, considers his breakthrough role as a gay journalist. Shilts’s future plans for a book about alleged sexual abuse inside the Catholic Church, and his desire for a national column are revealed. Shilts’s last interviews and written words reflect the fleeting nature of his life as he attempts to promote his final book, Conduct Unbecoming. Shilts’s health continues to deteriorate until he dies at his Guerneville, California home on February 17, 1994. Shilts’s death wins nationwide notice and his funeral becomes the first-ever picketed by members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church. Shilts’s friends, colleagues and his partner, Barry Barbieri, offer insight into his last months of life.