PRIDE GUIDE 1995 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 9

After two years, ACT UP

You're

Cleveland says goodbye Among

by Joe Caroccio

ACT UP Cleveland closed its doors on May 15, two years, two months and two days after its first meeting at the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center.

Readers might remember when we announced in January a meeting to elect new officers to head the organization. Many people called to offer assistance or a helping hand when they could, however, no one was able to devote the enormous amount of time and effort that is required to keep ACT UP functioning on a day to day basis.

The remaining members, after two years of fighting bureaucrats and drug companies, trying to wake up a mostly apathetic community, and watching our member-

and the mayor have yet to allocate the amount of money needed to control the crisis, and, as you may know, our friends are continuing to die.

Some feel we were successful. The city AIDS budget was increased by $350,000, a needle-exchange program for Cleveland is being developed, the city has a full-time AIDS policy coordinator, the AIDS Cure Project has been reintroduced to Congress,

ACT UP

THE AIDS COALITION TO UNLEASH POWER

CLEVELAND

ship shrink as our friends died, no longer have the energy or the support to continue ACT UP in a manner that does justice to its name. We are all deeply saddened by the end of the organization that brought together a group of people who surely would never have met, and created friendships that will be remembered forever.

The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power. Some members feel that we failed. The AIDS infection rate is still rising in Cleveland, AZT (the drug whose side effects are the same as the symptoms of AIDS) is still being tested against other known toxic antivirals at University Hospitals, City Council

and, while not enough, many more people have empowered themselves and raised their voices in their hope for an end to the AIDS crisis.

To those who call ACT UP and want to volunteer because you feel it is the only organization where you can truly raise your voice: well, you're right. What you have to do now, and I'm sure a few members will do the same, is put your voice to work at one of the many AIDS organizations in town. Make them make a difference. Become part of the solution. As always, call your representatives regularly! These people can only represent you if they know what is important to you.

To those who have supported ACT UP, many thanks, and please continue to fight.

To those who hated us from the beginning, our individual voices are still out there; now you just don't know where.

ACT UP. Fight Back. Fight AIDS. ✔

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