Nick Anderson, former cartoonist for the Houston Chronicle, had drawn a full-page memorial cartoon for Mr. Bush years ago during one of the former president's health crises, leaving a corner open for any final details. The Chronicle terminated his position last year, but he contacted the current editors to let them know of the cartoon's existence. The Chronicle has run the finished cartoon, which is best viewed on Anderson's Patreon page.
Since I draw for the LGBTQ press, I wasn't sure that I would add to the abundant collection of memorial cartoons out there. As president, Mr. Bush did not have a remarkable record on LGBTQ issues. He made no move to lift the ban on the military service by LGBTQ personnel — this was before Bill Clinton's botched attempt to do so — and was against marriage equality. (In 2013, he was an official witness to the wedding of the lesbian owners of a Kennebunkport general store, however.)
I decided to go ahead with a memorial cartoon for Mr. Bush after coming across this speech of his from March 30, 1990 at a conference sponsored by the National Leadership Coalition on AIDS. They are nice words, even if funding for AIDS drugs was cut from his next budget. Still, some protections for People With AIDS were included in the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.
In addition to the more traditional cartoon eulogies, there have been a few editorial cartoons this week lambasting the late Mr. Bush for the invasion of Panama, Iraq War I, the Willie Horton ad, the 1990-91 recession, and yes, his record on HIV/AIDS. If you are disappointed that I've been kinder and gentler than you think Mr. Bush deserves, all I can do is to welcome you to revisit this blog on Saturday, when I'll republish some of my cartoons from his presidency.
They were ruder and rougher than today's cartoon.
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