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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

May, 1990

Editorial

It ain't over 'til it's over

There is a disturbing new trend that we must bring to your attention. It affects all of us in a very life-threatening way. That trend is the number of people abandoning safer sex practices.

The AIDS epidemic is far from over (see the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control below). Cases continue to escalate, so the prognosis is for a very long war involving more casualties and affecting a wider circle of people. The disease is only now beginning to get the attention it deserved years ago when it was generally dismissed as an affliction reserved for gay men and drug users. The gay community, recognizing the threat in its early stages, set up programs, clinics, networks and political machinery that created educational material, drug testing sites and cooperation to combat the Reagan administration's obstinate attitude. Our community had the knowledge and procedures in place to help and to educate when AIDS began to spread through the "innocent" heterosexual population, well ahead of the national government's response.

Maybe all of this is old news, but that doesn't mean it should be forgotten. It is paradoxical that as more attention has been focused on AIDS and safer sex, the gay community seems to be moving away from those practices that slowed AIDS cases in the mid-1980's.

An article in the April 2 Wall Street Journal reports on this fact. According to the story, "Cases of venereal disease are rebounding at gay clinics in Los Angeles, Seattle and Denver. More alarming, the rate of new AIDS virus infections in Chicago has risen for the first time in five years. While still below the 7.5 percent annual growth rate of 1984, new infections within a study group doubled in the year ended June 1989 to two percent from one percent a year earlier.” Increases in venereal disease serve as clear warning that precautions are not being taken against AIDS.

survey conducted by the San Francisco Department of Public Health found in gay households that 18 percent of the men had intercourse without a condom in the past year. The Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) of New York City, among other activist groups, is meeting to discuss strategies to educate people against relapse. In the Wall Street Journal article, Michael DeMayo of the GMHC "attributes such slippage to denial, low self-esteem and alcohol or drug use." And several cities are reporting a resurgence of sex clubs, not all of which require use of condoms.

There are many hypotheses as to why people are giving up the very necessary precautions. Is it that we're blind to the dangers of AIDS? That's hard to believe with the increased attention it is getting. Is it because AIDS is any less of a threat? Even with AZT, DDI and other drugs

Endorsements

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that we are a important constituency and that ignoring and insulting us will make him lose his job; second, it would send a message to other politicians that the lesbian and gay population of Cleveland will be silent no more in the area of politics. We are an important minority and we will not accept bashing and will only support candidates who will support us. Third, it will elect a state senator who will be on our side. If the Suhadolnik anti-gay adoption bill ever comes to a vote there will be at least one more senator who will vote against it. That is very important.

A vote for Miller is definatly a vote for lesbian and gay community of Greater Cleveland and the whole state of Ohio. You have the power use it.

helping to prolong people's lives, there is still no cure and any exposure to the virus is extremely dangerous. It may be that older gays and lesbians are becoming war weary; younger people may see it as a problem that belongs only to the older generation; committed couples give up precautions to increase intimacy. In all cases, the abandonment of safeguards is a needless risk.

By now, we should all know about HIV transmission. Blood-to-blood and semen-to-blood contact are the easiest routes for the virus to travel; it also can exist in and pass with vaginal fluids. Knowing this, the warnings to use condoms and dental dams, and not to share needles, are obvious and specific solutions.

"Safe sex" practices apply whether or not you are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. They reduce the risk of infection, and really should be called "safer sex" since there is always a small chance something will go wrong. If you are already HIV positive, safer sex protects your weakened immune system from further disease introduction.

Safer sex is something very easy to perform, it barely interferes with the sexual process, yet it greatly increases the safety of both partners. Unfortunately the words safer sex don't have very much pizzazz to them. It's sort of like saying polite conversation – something that's possible, but not very exciting.

Let's stop resisting the fact that condoms are now a part of our lives and add it to the intimacy of the sexual encounter. Make sure that condoms, dental dams and other precautions are there along with the sex aids, toys, and magazines. Use them as part of your ritual. Make it a sensual experience for both partners, not an unwelcome interruption of sexual passion. There are many safe things you can do before, while, and after applying the prophylactics. These are all listed in safer sex pamphlets.

If you haven't tried spending a long time caressing, fondling and kissing your partner, you're both missing out on a significant part of arousal. Pleasurable sex is possible even with the necessary precautions being taken. By making the protection a regular and natural part of the ritual, it can become as sensual as the actual sexual union. If we all start thinking this way, we will be creating a safer sex environment where everyone believes it, everyone accepts it and everyone does it.

Yes, this is a long war fighting the AIDS epidemic. The endless words, stories and precautions are wearing everyone down but that doesn't make the problem go away. You must believe in yourself, your body, and that of your partner. You must continue to take safer sex precautions, in whatever way you feel comfortable, until we reach the end of

Senate Dist. 25: Eric Fingerhut

Eric Fingerhut is running in Senate District 25, the most diverse in the state. District 25 spans from Gates Mills to some of the poorest sections of Cleveland. The seven Democratic candidates running for that seat also represent a diverse group of people.

Not all of them are homophobic and many would represent our interests well. Eric Fingerhut is the best qualified as a state senator, especially one that will represent lesbians and gays with fairness. He speaks of himself as a progressive candidate which is definitely what we need. As part of Mayor White's campaign he engineered a winning effort that no one thought possible.

His assurance of voting against the Suhadolnik adoption bill and his eagerness to extend civil rights to gays and lesbians speaks for itself. Vote for Fingerhut and get us another friend in

this epidemic.

As of the end of March: Total AIDS cases reported U.S.

128,319

Ohio

1,759

Cuyahoga County

448

Deaths

78,341

1,047

272

U.S. Ohio

25-29

30-34

gay people's

HRONICLE

Cuyahoga County

Age at time of diagnosis under 20 20-24

2,692

5,484

20,551

31,376

35-39

27,890

Art Director:

40-44

17,458

45-49

9,873

50-54

5,591

55-59

3,600

60-64

1,938

65+

1,866

Racial distribution White

Black

71,517

35,472

Hispanic

20,062

Asian or Pacific Islander Native American Unknown

785

168

315

Adult transmission categories Total cases reported male female

homosexual/bisexual IV drug abuse

male IV

male female

126,127

114,381

11,746

75,853

26,883

20,812

female IV

6,071

homosexual and IV drug abuse

8,711

hemophilia or

coagulation disorder

1,141

heterosexual

16,231

2,551

13,680

transfusion undetermined

3,040

4,268

Ten highest states reporting cases New York

28,611

California

24,826

Florida Texas New Jersey

10,562

8,806

8,456

Illinois

3,728

Puerto Rico

3,701

Pennsylvania

3,605

Georgia

3,428

Massachusetts

2,736

Ten highest cities

New York City

24,935

Los Angeles

8,739

7,894

3,746

3,595

3,580

3,134

3,117

2,687

2,584

San Francisco Houston Washington Newark Chicago Miami Philadelphia Atlanta

The Public Health Service estimates that 1 million people in this country are currently infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. By the end of 1993, the estimates are for cumulative AIDS cases of between 390,000 to 480,000 and the cumulative number of deaths to be between 285,000 and 340,000.

the State House.

Domestic Court Judge: Sue Weaver

Susan M. Weaver has always been a great friend to the lesbian and gay community of Cleveland. She served on the board of the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center for more than three years and is the legal counsel to countless lesbian and gay organizations, including the Chronicle. She deserves our support.

We need lesbianand gay-friendly people on the bench. Domestic Relations Court would decide cases which

would include lesbians mothers and gay men seeking visitation with their children. It is important that we eliminate homophobia in the judicial system as much as possible.

While judges are suppose to be without prejudice, we know that sometimes isn't so. Remember Judge Hampton in Texas who gave reduced

Vol. 5, Issue 11.

Founded by Charles Callender

1928-1986

Published by KWIR Publications Co-Owners:

Robert Downing

Martha J. Pontoni

Editor-in-Chief:

Martha J. Pontoni

Associate Editors:

Carlie Steen, Brian DeWitt. Copy Editors:

Kevin Beaney, Barb P.

Sports Editor:

K.D. Mahnal

Reporters and Writers:

Martha J. Pontoni, K.D. Mahnal, Dora Forbes, Don S., Faith Klasek, Robert Laycock,

Douglas Braun, Steven Hurt,.

Columnists:

Antone Feo, Joe Interrante.

Christine Hahn

Artists:

Pat Hughes, Tom Zav, Dawn Fritz, Bob

Boone, Nathan Gwirtz.

Assistants to the Editor:

Dan Postotnik, Dave Volk.

Distribution Chief:

Robert Downing

Office Manager:

Ray P. Triggs

Account Executive:

Steve VanGuilder

Editorial Board:

Martha J. Pontoni, Robert Downing, Carlie Steen, Brian DeWitt, Christine Hahn.

The Gay People's Chronicle is dedicated to providing a space in Cleveland's lesbian-gay community for all women and men to communicate and be involved with each other. This means that every Chronicle, to the best of our ability, will be equally dedicated to both men's and women's issues, as well as issues that affect all of us. Striving for this balance will not only provide the community with a forum to air grievances and express joys, but will also help all of us achieve this balance in our lives.

Publication of the name, picture or other representation of an individual, organization or place of business in the Gay People's Chronicle is not indicative of his or her sexual orientation or character.

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The Gay People's Chronicle is not responsible for claims made by advertisers.

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sentences to two men who had murdered a gay man because Hampton didn't like gay men? Sometimes the courts are our only recourse and when they are against us we become further persecuted. Vote for Sue Weaver, a good friend and a good judge.

Appeals Court Judge: Pat Blackmon

Pat Blackmon is running for judge in the Cuyahoga County Court of Appeals. Blackmon was the Cleveland city prosecutor under Mayor Voinovich, and also worked with George Forbes' mayoral campaign. When approached for a endorsement the the Chronicle had its misgivings, as it was her office that prosecuted Brion Thomas and Bill Kelly last summer after the anti-gay Cleveland police sweeps on West 6th St.

After a long talk with Blackmon the Chronicle discovered that she does have a dedication to fairness that includes the lesbian and gay community. She ex-

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