Tom Hanks stars as Andrew Beckett, a homosexual who works at a powerful law firm in Philadelphia. After developing HIV, Andrew keeps his sexuality and disease to himself, in fear that it would ruin his career. After a colleague discovers a lesion on Beckett, his secret is out and he is immediately fired because of his condition and sexuality. Angered, Beckett wants to sue his firm for wrongful termination and discrimination. Denied by each lawyer he brings his case to, Beckett decides to take the case on his own. After viewing his struggle, Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) who already denied Beckett once, finally comes around and takes his case.
"Philadelphia" was created in 1993 and is one of the first Hollywood films to acknowledge HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, and homophobia. This film does an amazing job demonstrating discrimination in the workplace as well as in society. When the epidemic of HIV/AIDS first accumulated, gay men were discriminated immediately. Stigma and discrimination became apparent. Negative attitudes, prejudice and abuse would direct the people living with the disease. Whoever was most at risk depended on people's health status, race, socioeconomic status, age, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. People faced discrimination in health care settings, educational/work settings, as well as from their families, peers, and community.
The events that take place in the movie can be compared to attorney Geoffrey Bowers and Clarence B. Cain.
In 1987, Bowers sued the law firm Baker McKenzie for wrongful termination in one of the first AIDS discrimination cases.
In 1990, Cain was an attorney for Hyatt Legal Services who was fired after his employer found out he had AIDS. Right before his death, he won the case.
"Philadelphia" is a great PSA for HIV/AIDS stigma and showcasing the discrimination people with HIV/AIDS face.
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