PERSONAL LIFE

Mercury was a demographic as intricate as his outspoken self. He shared a significant and lasting bond with Mary Austin whom he referred to as his "common-law wife." However, their romantic relationship came to an end when Mercury accepted that he was bisexual but their connection remained strong till the end of times. Later, he got involved with men most notably Jim Hutton who stayed with him until he breathed his last. The personal fight that Mercury had against HIV/AIDS which he kept secret up until shortly before his demise brought out the plight of many people living with this condition during a time when it was under serious stigma. His death from AIDS-related complications on November 24th, 1991 was another significant moment in global alertness to the epidemic, which helped lower the weight of avoidance related to it. His life battles as well as how they have been affected by his death are detailed in Biography.Biography.com Editors.  (Biography.com Editors, 2021)