For decades, much of the national story surrounding the AIDS epidemic centered on major cities such as New York and San Francisco. The experiences of those who fought the crisis in smaller Southern communities often remained largely untold.

With the release of Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South, author and filmmaker David W. Hylan Jr. hopes to change that.

The book, scheduled for release June 27, chronicles the history of ACT UP Shreveport and the activists who confronted fear, discrimination, political indifference and public silence during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Northwest Louisiana.

Based on the award-winning documentary of the same name, the 205-page work expands significantly beyond the original film through oral histories, archival research, interviews and firsthand testimony.

For Hylan, the timing of the book’s release is tied to the continuing relevance of the issues it explores.

“For many years, the stories of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Deep South were largely absent from the national conversation. Much of the public memory surrounding the epidemic focused on larger cities, while smaller Southern communities were often overlooked. As debates surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, public health, censorship, and historical memory continue today, it felt increasingly urgent to preserve these stories before more voices were lost,” Hylan said.

The book examines how activists in Shreveport organized protests, challenged institutions, educated the public and advocated for people living with HIV/AIDS during one of the nation’s deadliest public health crises. It also explores the emotional, political, religious and cultural realities that shaped life in the Deep South during the 1980s and 1990s.

According to Hylan, Shreveport’s setting is central to the story.

“Shreveport represents a part of America that many people do not immediately associate with LGBTQ+ activism or AIDS activism. It was deeply conservative, heavily religious, and politically resistant to discussions surrounding HIV/AIDS during the 1980s and 1990s. That is precisely what makes the story important. The people of ACT UP Shreveport organized, protested, educated, cared for one another, and fought for dignity in an environment where silence often felt safer than visibility,” Hylan said.

Throughout his years documenting the movement, Hylan said he was repeatedly inspired by the individuals whose stories form the foundation of the book.

“I was continually struck by the courage of ordinary people. Many of the activists were not seasoned political organizers. They were individuals trying to survive while confronting fear, stigma, rejection, illness, and loss,” Hylan said. “Yet they still found ways to fight for themselves and for others. I was also surprised by how many stories had nearly disappeared from public memory entirely.”

The project began as a documentary that later received the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Film of the Year award. Narrated by Lance Bass and co-directed by Hylan and Raydra Hall, the film introduced audiences to ACT UP Shreveport’s role in confronting the AIDS crisis. The book format allowed Hylan to delve deeper into stories that could not fit into a feature-length documentary.

“While making the documentary, we quickly realized there were far more stories than could ever fit into a feature-length film. The documentary opened the door, but the book allowed for a much deeper exploration of the people, relationships, history, politics, and emotional realities surrounding the epidemic in Northwest Louisiana. Over time, it became clear that these stories deserved a broader historical record,” Hylan shared.

Hylan believes the lessons from the epidemic continue to resonate today.

“The parallels are impossible to ignore. Questions surrounding public health, political division, misinformation, fear, LGBTQ+ rights, and the policing of marginalized communities continue to shape public life today. One of the lessons of the AIDS crisis is that silence and stigma carry human consequences. The stories in Small Town Rage remind us what happens when communities are ignored, politicized, or treated as disposable,” Hylan said.

Beyond documenting tragedy, Hylan said the book serves as a record of resilience and resistance.

“History shapes how communities understand themselves. The AIDS crisis changed countless lives, but many of the people who carried that history were never fully heard outside their own communities. Preserving these stories is about more than documenting suffering. It is about documenting resistance, humanity, survival, friendship, activism, and the refusal to disappear quietly,” Hylan said.

The book also carries a message for younger generations.

“I hope younger readers understand that progress is never inevitable. The rights and visibility many people experience today were built through the courage of individuals who were often frightened, grieving, isolated, and fighting systems much larger than themselves. I also hope readers recognize the importance of compassion, community, and speaking out against injustice even when it feels uncomfortable or unpopular,” Hylan shared.

For Hylan, the project became deeply personal.

“Very much so. Revisiting these stories meant revisiting an era marked by fear, loss, and silence, but also extraordinary resilience. Many of the people featured in the book were not simply historical subjects. They were friends, neighbors, activists, caregivers, and individuals whose lives shaped the communities around them. Preserving their voices became deeply personal.”

Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South includes a foreword by HIV/AIDS writer and activist Mark S. King and will be available in hardcover, paperback and ebook formats. The official launch event is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. June 27 at Central Art Station in downtown Shreveport.

As readers turn the final pages, Hylan hopes they leave with a deeper appreciation for those whose voices might otherwise have been forgotten.

“I hope readers feel the humanity of the people at the center of these stories. The book is certainly about activism and history, but it is also about friendship, grief, courage, humor, survival, and love in the face of overwhelming fear. Above all, I hope readers remember the individuals who refused to disappear quietly,” Hylan said.

Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South can be pre-ordered now on Amazon by clicking here or at Barnes and Noble by clicking here.