Author Interview and Reading with Steven Reigns author of “A Quilt for David”
Tuesday, April 14th | 6:00 PM
Stonewall, 1300 East Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Free event. Refreshments will be served.
About the book:
A Quilt for David is a poetic, investigative reconstruction of one of the most sensationalized and misunderstood episodes of the AIDS crisis. Steven Reigns uncovers the story of Dr. David Acer, a gay Florida dentist accused in the late 1980s and early 1990s of infecting his patients with HIV—allegations that ignited national panic, tabloid frenzy, and deep homophobia.
The book reveals the hidden history behind the case, showing how Acer’s illness, appearance, and sexuality made him an easy scapegoat in a moment when fear overshadowed science.
Through lyrical poems woven with archival research, Reigns restores nuance and humanity to a man long vilified, illuminating the media distortions, community hysteria, and personal suffering that shaped the narrative.
The work challenges readers to reconsider how queer lives were judged, erased, or exploited during the early AIDS epidemic, and how misinformation can calcify into public memory.
If you want, I can also craft an ultra‑minimal version for signage or a more dramatic version for an event program.
About the author
Steven Reigns is a Los Angeles–based poet, educator, and LGBTQ+ historian whose work blends meticulous archival research with deeply human storytelling. He is the author of A Quilt for David, a groundbreaking documentary‑poetry investigation that revisits the life of Dr. David Acer and the media firestorm that engulfed him during the AIDS crisis. Reigns’ commitment to truth‑seeking and queer historical recovery has made him a vital voice in contemporary literature.
The first Poet Laureate of West Hollywood, Reigns has published numerous chapbooks and led writing workshops across the country, championing creative expression as a tool for healing, visibility, and community connection. His work often centers untold or misrepresented queer histories, restoring nuance and dignity to lives distorted by stigma or silence.
