December 1985

LETTERS-

Thoughts on AIDS

To the Editor:

As a retired person I have a lot of time for reflection. Because of the wide proliferation of AIDS news, one is almost forced to have thoughts on the subject.

The other night I thought about an aspect that knocked off my socks. Most people die suddenly. In the morning they are alive, in the evening they are dead. The AIDS victim, however, has a predictable life span which is

tantamout to a dated invitation to eternal life, if he accepts. Regardless of his offenses or public opinion, God singles out the victim for a special favor. All the ailing person has to do is close his eyes and ears (so to speak) to the world and prepare for a date with the greatest lover the world has ĕver known, Jesus Christ, whose mercy, compassion, and goodness defy understanding. Harry Armstead (Granny)

Write!

To the Editor:

We and several of

friends, both

gay

somewhere in time

Gay Peoples Chronicle

by Rob Daroff, Jr.,

AIDS

唐县

WHERE IS

Page 5

EVERYONE HIDING

NOW'S WHEN WE

NEED YOU

THE MOST...

SWIMMER'S, ALWARI SELF-RIGHTEOUS, TOOTHLESS SHARKS!

BRIDGE CONNECTING STRAIGHT THE

WORLD WITH THE GAY COMMUNITY, EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE: 1969 1970 1926 1984 SOON?

Is the sun rising or is it setting?

Please of your time to write to your congressman and urge him or her to vote in favor of Bill HR 230. Remember to be informed of the issue that you discuss; be courtedwell ous; don't ramble or

take a few minutes Carbon Copy

irrelevant points. Also, it is better to send a personal letter, rather than form letters or postcards. If your our letters bring the and desired results, write follow-up letter expressing launch a progay letter writyour appreciation for

straight, are attempting to

ac-

Barbara

Andrea Brooks-McCann Columbia, Missouri

ing let-tions taken. campaign in which letters will be sent to members of Congress. We hope to counteract the the antigay campaign started by fundamentalist organizations such as the Christian Voice and the Moral Majority, Inc.

Thousands of antigay letters are pouring into the offices of United States Congressmen. These letters are in protest of Bill Dumber HR 230, which would give civil rights to gay people, if passed.

the

According to a recent article in the October 1 issue of The Advocate, U.S. Representative Ted Weiss of New York has received hundreds of antigay hate letters in past several months and only 25 to 50 progay letters. The Christian Voice has launched a huge antigay campaign which has resulted in thousands of postcards flooding the mailboxes of Representatives Weiss and Hawkins.

Blames Chronicle

We want to. tell how how indignant we feel about your giving the Plain Dealer the telephone numbers of organizations like ours, to list as AIDS Hot Lines. We are not a Hot Line. There is no excuse for this.

Name Withheld

[The Chronicle is reprinting the following letter to Rep. Gilmore, of which ceived

Dear Mr. Gilmore:

we re-

EVERYTHING ONE WAY

transfusions. But, I sig cerely trust that I would not vent my anger by calling for the house arrest of all other victims of this dis-

ease.

and copy]

It has been the hope of American citizens that many in the 20th century, we, have been moving toward ever and more rational and compassionate understanding of society. The Utopiañ dream--a world without war, crime, poverty, hunger.. But then, we must remember that this is the same 20th century which has given the likes of Hitler, McCarthy, and Falwell.

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the in-

And DOW, adding to dismay, you have just troduced a bill in the Ohio which would Lesgislature permanently quarantine anyone with the disease, AIDS.

Has it not occurred to you and any other supporters of this bill that it is, in effect, dealing life prison sentences to men, women, and children--whose only crime would have been to have got[Why ten sick? earth blame the Chronicle? Didn't you notice we were also listed as 20 AIDS Hot Line? We understand your beannoyance, cause we've been getting the kinds of calls. But your complaint should be addressed to the Plain Dealnot to us.]

same

ex,

Of course, you are concerned about controlling the spread of AIDS. My own parents have both, in recent years, received blood transfusions--and you can be quite certain that I would be extremely dismayed if either of them contracted AIDS as a result of these

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Has it not occurred to you your supporters that such a quarantine would probably do nothing more than to make everyone apprehensive about about seeking medical treatment? Would you submit to a blood test, knowing that the results might confine you forever to your nouse--never again able to enjoy a walk in the park, an orchestra concert, a trip to an art museum?

And, if we do quarantine AIDS patients, how shall we react to their doctors, their purses friends, and relatives? Might they not also spread the virus? Where does your paranoia end??

Certainly the medical authorities do not yet know all the answers about AIDS. This is not the first appearance of a mysterious, deadly disease (remember Legionnaire's?)--and will probably not be the last. But on one important point all the authorities seem to agree: based 00 all the available data (not on hysterical layman opinion), AIDS is not easily contractable.

So what what shall we do in lieu of unfair quarantining? Increase funding in the search for a cure--educate the public with facts--and show compassion for victims of all diseases.

gay peoples CHRONICLE

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