26 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE OCTOBER 1, 1993

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But I'm negative, why should I care?

by Kenneth J. Kriz

and Michael D. McCort Believe it or not, we get asked that question quite often. For a long time, we felt that since we were HIV negative and did not personally know anyone who had AIDS, that this disease was not our problem. What happened to get us involved in the fight? First, you hear about a friend who tests

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positive, then two, then five. Then you hear about one who died, then two, and all of a sudden you notice that a lot of people seem to be catching pneumonia lately.

Take a look in your closet: If you have a wardrobe just for funerals, then it's time to ACT UP. Just once, resist the urge to turn your head to the death that is permeating the community and take the time, about one hour, to find out why after 12 years the death count is increasing and reaching every corner of society.

What we found out scared us. The AIDS crisis was allowed to develop virtually unchecked because the people with the power to do something considered AIDS a blessing because it killed all the right people: gays, drug users, minorities. Our eyes were opened to the corporate greed that dominates the failed research and treatment efforts, the government inaction that has allowed AIDS to become institutionalized and the public indifference that has allowed it all to continue. It's time to ACT UP.

To those of you who think ACT UP it "too radical," take a closer look at what we do. The majority of our time is spent researching and distributing medical information, meeting with government and health officials and staying on top of the endless political and bureaucratic games that could affect people living with AIDS. You might

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think, "I don't know how to do those things, or I don't have the time." There is something everyone can do to help.

If you don't want to be visible at demonstrations, help out behind the scenes. Can you dial a phone? Call a doctor or a politician for the latest information? Can you run a copy machine? Do you have access to one? ACT UP distributes large amounts of information and flyers. Do you know of any problems affecting a person with AIDS? Come to a meeting, let us know. Help us research the problem and fight for a solution. We are not all about getting arrested or causing a disturbance; ACT UP is fighting for a cure, for fair treatment of PLWAs, for an end to the policies of genocide that have allowed this to become a plague.

Another thing to keep in mind; some researchers are starting to believe that HIV is not the sole cause of AIDS, but merely a co-factor in the progression of the disease. Some people with AIDS test negative for HIV and some with HIV never develop AIDS. Another study links AIDS with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Scared? It's time to ACT UP. The bottom line is that a negative HIV test may not be telling you the whole story. Get involved now to save your own life.

To those of you who have donated your money, time, space and professional services, we appreciate it as there is a lot to be done. To those who are ready to make you voice heard, come and demonstrate with ACT UP. Contrary to popular belief, civil disobedience does not require arrest. However, if you choose to make a statement by getting arrested, ACT UP has arrangements to handle the legal matters.

Feel the empowerment of being one of those who is doing something instead of just> sitting back and thinking, "Why should I worry? ACT UP will do something about it." Aren't you angry that fellow gays, fellow human beings, are being allowed to die (genocide) because of who they are? They are who we are. Your friends, your family; ACT UP LIKE IT!

This space has been provided to ACT UP by the Chronicle. Views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Chronicle staff or management.

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

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