COMMUNITY GROUPS

Top Ten reasons why not

by Gordon Jones

ACT UP has made a New Year's resolution not to write any more columns asking the community to get involved in our fight against AIDS. By now everyone should know what ACT UP stands for and how to contact us.

But I thought you might be interested in the top ten list of excuses why people couldn't be activists in 1993.

10. I already gave at the bar.

9. Activist's clothing makes me look frumpy. 8. Meetings are al-

ways held on the

night I dress like

Madonna

and

dance in front of

the mirror.

7. Whenever I carry

Deep thoughts

Now we know our government experimented with syphilis on unsuspecting black

men.

Now we know Winston Churchill and FDR were aware of intelligence reports on the Nazi death camps, but chose to ignore them.

For years the Pentagon denied the defoliant Agent Orange was sprayed on its own personnel and caused any health problems. After severe public pressure, they've retreated and have been paying defoliant related claims.

ACT UP

a demonstration THE AIDS COALITION TO UNLEASH POWER

sign I break a nail.

6. When they arrest

CLEVELAND

you, you're always thrown in the "sissy tank" instead of a crowded cell with real hot, sweaty men.

5. I like being on television, but they always show my bad profile.

4. There were no male strippers at the last meeting I attended.

3. I'm in charge of the Miss Gay Cleveland Pageant and I spend all my time figuring out how to get the winner up the Cuyahoga River in a gondola.

2. I can't shout and chant, because I need my voice in perfect pitch to call 1-800-DICK. And the number one reason I can't get involved:

1. I fell in my closet and I can't get out!

ACT UP tidbits

Four of our members either sit or have been nominated for seats on the Community Advisory Board to the University Hospitals AIDS Clinical Trials Group.

We're pressing Mayor White hard for a strong commitment to increase the city's AIDS budget up to at least the levels of spending in Cincinnati and Columbus.

Three members attended the national

strategy planning conference in Washington, D.C., January 22, to map out a "blueprint" to push House Bill HR 3310 (the AIDS Cure Act) through Congress in 1994.

During the run of the movie Philadelphia we've been handing out 5,000 leaflets on HR 3310 and asking people to support it with writing their elected representatives and donating money to fund the cause.

Recently, we attended an ACT UP New York meeting where we were loudly applauded and praised for having Tom Brokaw open the NBC national nightly news with Cleveland's World AIDS Day Action.

Yes, Virginia, ACT UP does more than demonstrate.

As recently as the Gulf War, the Pentagon denied any chemical weapons were used by Iraqi forces resulting in major, mysterious

diseases to U.S. servicemen and women.

Cheers to the Czechs for standing up to the “U.S. Brass" and announcing to the world their chemical detection units indeed found traces of mustard gas.

Now we've learned dangerous radiation experiments were carried out on U.S. citizens and atmospheric nuclear testing continued even after negotiating a Test Ban Treaty with the former Soviet Union.

Do you ever wonder that perhaps 40-50 years from now, AIDS could be added to the above list?

Do you think history may have been changed if people started "acting up" 50 years ago?

Announcements

Treatment: We still believe we have the latest and most complete up-to-the-minute treatment information available. Some of our own doctors are amazed at what we know.

We have a treatment meeting every third Monday of the month. You owe it to yourself to be as knowledgeable about HIV/ AIDS as possible. Knowledge is power, especially in your dealings with the medical

establishment.

Social Security: Several members have become quite proficient in learning the ins and outs and the dos and don't(s) in applying for SSI (Social Security Disability). We can help you the most if you inquire before applying, but we do have some suggestions to cut the "red tape" if you're having trouble with a final determination of disability on your case.

You don't have to be a member of ACT UP to access these services. Just call ahead of time (621-2233) to make sure someone will be in our office when you plan to come.

JANUARY 28, 1994 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 19

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