HBO Adapts "The Normal Heart" With Complicated Hero

New York Times columnist Frank Bruni reflects on the legacy of AIDS activist Larry Kramer.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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In a new column, New York Times writer Frank Bruni discusses the HBO adaptation of the play "The Normal Heart" and the complicated legacy of AIDS activist Larry Kramer. Bruni admits he has at times "dreaded" and "detested" Kramer, but recognizes his vital role in pushing for action during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s.

Why it matters

Kramer was a polarizing figure, known for his aggressive tactics and unapologetic criticism of the government and LGBTQ organizations he felt were not doing enough. The HBO adaptation of "The Normal Heart" brings renewed attention to Kramer's complex legacy as a hero of the AIDS movement.

The details

In his column, Bruni writes that while Kramer was "obnoxious" at times, "we needed him there" fighting for the LGBTQ community during the devastating AIDS crisis. The HBO adaptation of "The Normal Heart" is seen as an opportunity to reevaluate Kramer's place in history as a flawed but crucial activist.

  • The HBO adaptation of "The Normal Heart" premiered on February 11, 2026.

The players

Frank Bruni

A columnist for The New York Times who has written about the legacy of AIDS activist Larry Kramer.

Larry Kramer

A playwright and AIDS activist known for his aggressive tactics in pushing for action during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s.

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What they’re saying

“I dreaded Larry Kramer, and sometimes I even detested Larry Kramer, but always — always — I knew that he was on the side of the angels and that we needed him there, in all his unappeasable and obnoxious glory.”

— Frank Bruni, Columnist (The New York Times)

The takeaway

The HBO adaptation of "The Normal Heart" provides an opportunity to reevaluate the complex legacy of AIDS activist Larry Kramer, whose aggressive tactics and unapologetic criticism were divisive but ultimately necessary in pushing for action during the devastating AIDS crisis.