AUGUST 30, 1996 GAY People's ChroNICLE 15
COMMUNITY GROUPS
The new ACT UP Cleveland: Who we are
Greetings from the front. Many people may not know that the ACT UP chapter that now exists in Cleveland began at Dancin' in the Streets in 1995. Cleveland's original ACT UP chapter folded earlier in that same year.
This is the first in a series of articles that will hopefully meet up to the informative column written by the previous ACT UP Cleveland. For those of you who are not familiar with the history of ACT UP we would like to
share some of our national and local
history.
ACT UP tried to
work with Bur-
roughs Wellcome
our current struggle with University Hospitals of Cleveland. Fact: Dr. John Carey died on Sept. 1, 1995. Fact: at the time of his death Dr. Carey was the primary physician for approximately 350 of the 700-plus HIV patients seen at the Special Immunology Clinic at University Hospitals. Fact: By their own admission, almost one year after Dr. Carey's death University Hospitals is still involved in a national search to find Dr. Carey's replace-
ACT UP
to lower the price THE AIDS COALITION TO UNLEASH POWER
of AZT. They did not, so we shut down the New
CLEVELAND
York Stock Exchange one morning in an act of civil disobedience. The result was that the price of AZT was lowered significantly.
ACT UP went after the National Institutes of Health due to the complete lack of clinical trials involving women infected with HIV. The end result? Clinical trials involving HIV-positive women with AZT, and a lower birth rate of HIV-positive children to these women.
The Cleveland ACT UP chapter worked with the City of Cleveland to hasten the implementation of $400,000 of Ryan White Care Act money earmarked for HIV prevention and education outreach workers. The result was that Mayor Michael White defended the programs put in place with these funds. We commend him for his efforts in this direction.
ACT UP began work with University Hospitals of Cleveland in an effort to establish an education program for the emergency room staff, who were being over-used as primary care for persons with HIV infection, even prior to Dr. John Carey's death. The result? A mandatory training session for the entire staff early in 1996.
That being said, we would like to clarify
ment.
Fact: ACT UP Cleveland
re-
quested an open town meeting to be attended by University Hospitals, all AIDS service organizations in the Cleveland area, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County
health officials, ACT UP Cleveland, persons living with HIV infection and those persons who care for and love them. The sole purpose of this meeting was to be giving the support of the entire community in the search for Dr. Carey's replacement.
The hospital has denied our request for a town hall meeting. They have instead offered to meet with ACT UP Cleveland in a private meeting behind closed doors. After many months of unsuccessful negotiations with potential candidates, the position has yet to be filled.
Fact: This is not how we do business. While our tactics may not always be appreciated by the entire community, we believe the results of our actions are.
We ask you to join in this effort to bring our community together to find Dr. Carey's replacement. This in not only a University Hospitals issue, it is a community issue. We also ask you to join us in a candlelight vigil on Sunday, September 1, 1996 at 8 p.m. at the site of Dr. Carey's death, the lake freighter William G. Mather, docked at the the East 9th St. Pier in downtown Cleveland.
ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!
$525
S
SHEA LIMOUSINE CO.
AVAILABLE 24 HOURS
Airport Transportation • Concerts • Dinner • Theatre Commitment Ceremonies • All Special Events
Phone (216) 397-3131
Pager (216) 790-1583
The
ROSETO CLUB
AKRON'S ONLY PRIVATE GAY CLUB
627 South Arlington St. Akron, OH 44306 (330)724-4228
1st in Akron with Rainbow Well
Mention This
Ad For Special Discounts!
Tim Shea
LISW ACSW Clinical Social Worker Individual Couple and Group Psychotherapy
D.L. Dunkle & Assoc.
12417 Cedar, Suites 21-24 Cleve. Hts., Ohio 44106 (216) 229-2100
Don't get stung by a health emergency.
If you have an allergic reaction, a simple bee sting can land you in the emergency room. That means you'll be hurting for cash, unless you have the Individual Membership Plan from Kaiser Permanente. Now comprehensive health and prescription coverage is avail-
able, without depending on an employer for about
$90 a month. So even an emergency doesn't take a
big bite out of your budget. Call toll free
888-KP1-4141 today, for more information. Can you afford not to?
KAISER PERMANENTE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP PLAN 1-888-KP1-4141
*Rates will vary according to age. Availability subject to medical screening.
1996 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio