8 GAY PEOple's ChronicLE MARCH 8, 1996

COMMUNITY FORUM

Not closeted

To the Editors:

I just finished reading a newspaper article describing a future conference (it wasn't the Chronicle). Within the description of the events was the comment that one of the participants was an "openly gay person."

Could someone please explain to me what, exactly is an "openly gay person"? Is it similar to being “openly heterosexual"? Or would it compare more to being left-handed or green-eyed? Which would it be better to be? Openly gay or an admitted gay?

Onthe television show Nightline, Ted Koppel referred to Barney Frank as being "openly gay." United States Representative Barney Frank was quick to correct the remark by stating that he is an "Acknowledged Gay Person."

Seems to me it's time to take a stand against this subtle form of discrimination. Instead of referring to ourselves and others as "openly gay," change it to say we are gay and open. It is time to take pride in the most basic part of our being and become an “acknowledged gay person.”

Eric L. Floyd Akron

Why no benefits?

To the Editors:

I am a registered voter in your district. I have lived and been gainfully employed in the greater Columbus area for six out of the last eight years.

In November 1994, I was arrested and convicted of a felony crime, in which no one was hurt, and my victim was 100 percent compensated by me. I served one year in the state prison at a cost of $36,000 to society.

While I was in prison I learned that I was HIV positive, and in fact had AIDS. I was shunned by medical staff, and did not receive proper medical treatment. As a result my disease progressed rapidly.

They released me from prison with $85, and a desire to quietly live out whatever time is left to me. Now I find I live in a community that seems content to shuffle me off to the sidelines until I die.

I am physically unable to sustain myself by working at gainful employment. I have been turned down for assistance at every level of government. I get by on $119 in food stamps, and a medical card. I receive no cash payment! The only way that I have been able to get by is sheer determination, and generos-

THE OPEN PRAIRIE by Joe Hoover

IT ALL STARTED WHEN STUDENTS AT SALT LAKE CITY'S EAST HIGHSCHOOL DECIDED TO FORM A GAY/STRAIGHT ALLIANCE CLUB SOON THE WHOLE STATE OF UTAH WAS ABUZZ WITH NEWS OF HOMOSEXUAL INFILTRATION!

QUICK DECISIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE SCHOOL BOARD

REPAIR THIS HOMOSEXUAL BREACH.

WE'RE JUST TAWNS OF LOVE!

AND BY THE END, THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO BAN ALL EXTRACURRICULAR CLUBS IN AN EFFORT TO THWART THE HOMOSEXUAL MENACE!

MAYBE THEY SHOULD OP

CALLED THE GROUP; MOTSS CHESS CLUB THAT'O CONFUSE 'BM!

of Ohio was to shell out $36,000 to confine me for a misdeed. As long as I commit a crime, the system is more than happy to take care of my every need. But, if I try to obtain benefits that I am entitled to, I find that the stigma of AIDS prevents me from participating in programs that would almost automatically be granted to people with more socially acceptable ailments.

My question to you is: Why are state penal facilities not required to release medical records in a simple, logical manner? Especially, when it is so crucial in obtaining follow-up care, and public benefits.

I am not asking for a handout, but the system we are now using is surely not work-

Hoover

BY PRAIRIE SYNDICATE

http://www.winternet.com/-oprairie

Email: oprairie@winternet.com

Web Site:

Or, is the article writer insecure in his or her sexuality?

Daily we hear railing about privacy, lack of privacy, Constitutional rights, etc. Aren't we all entitled to the same consideration?

Perhaps the article writer, and others, experience a vicarious thrill from others' sexual appetite.

The mentality of the article writer seems to be that if Mom and Dad know person x is gay, then they will think it's okay for me to be

gay.

Stanley M. Mason Lakewood

ing. The stress involved in navigating the Making air waves

system has caused my health to deteriorate rapidly. My CD-4 count has dropped almost 100 in 60 days. If it is society's desire to put me off unitl I die, there is very little I can do.

This is just an attempt to have someone realize that the system needs some attention. AIDS is a fatal disease; we are going to die. Why is it so difficult to receive the assistance that we so desparately need? I feel that I deserve a response. I am not going away, at least not for a while. So, until someone can answer my questions, or change the system so it works, I guess I will keep writing letters. If you or anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me:

Barry Jayne Columbus

ity of the Columbus AIDS Task Force and Do we need to know?

the AIDS Service Connection.

Part of my dilemma is the fact that the institution where I was confined has thus far refused all my attempts to obtain the medical files contained in my prison record. This information would expedite my receiving Social Security Disability benefits—a system that I paid into for years. I seek only to live out whatever time I have left with some modicum of dignity.

I witnessed firsthand how eager the state

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To the Editors:

Re: February 26 Chronicle, “ 'Everyone knows' the star is gay-so why doesn't she just say so?" The writer of the article is Kim Painter.

May I ask, whose business is it?

Does being gay or lesbian enhance or diminish the ability of a person to function? What does the inquirer get from this information?

Scott Kalish Attorney at Law

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The following letter was sent to the management of WWWE 1100 AM radio station in Cleveland.

Dear General Manager:

It is about time, I think, to replace Mr. Rich Michaels [who is on the air from 9:00 am to 11:45 am, weekdays] with someone who can remain objective in his discourses, regardless of his own opinions. Over a period of time, a listener begins to suspect what the announcer really thinks. His sighs, grunts, growls, snickers, laughs, chuckles, tone of voice, etc., all give some indication of what the announcer is thinking. In the case of Mr. Michaels and homosexuality, one doesn't need to suspect. One knows exactly by his subjective rantings which always, always culminate with the words sodomy and AIDS.

Thursday, February 22, the subject of gay clubs in schools came up. Immediately he went into the usual derogatory ravings and ended with the usual “AIDS.”

Sir, I wish to God that there had been an existing club for young gays in the days of my youth. There was no place to go for compassion, understanding, information, and comradeship. If there had been I would have not made so many bungling, stupid mistakes. Early on, I would also have learned that one does not have to be a pussy because he is gay.

Community Forum

GAY PEOPLES CHRONICLE

Volume 11, Issue 18

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Lastly, such a club would have helped me to focus on the positive aspects of getting on with my life, and the burden of living two lives in one body would not have been as painful as it is.

As a replacement for Mr. Michaels, mayl suggest Ms. Ruby Cheeks, who is well versed, knowledgeable, and has her hand on the pulse of the audience.

Harry (Granny) Armstead Cleveland

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