AIDS Taskforce is proud

of their roots, community

by Chrisse France

Cleveland-In the last scene of the movie Longtime Companion, there is a dream sequence. All of the film's characters-its protagonists and antagonists, its walk-ons, those who died in celluloid and those who carried on for them-are all reunited, at some unnamed time, on the beach. And they're having a party.

That seems somehow right, fitting. The common struggle that is AIDS is now approaching its third decade. Many of us who were around when it started could never have imagined, never even imagined what was coming. The common struggle that is homophobia and heterosexism has already spanned millennia, and we're not home yet. We've lost friends; we've lost our political and spiritual innocence. We've suffered retreats and advances, disappointments and an occasionally thrilling victory. We're still here.

For that reason alone, a party is not only justified, but necessary. It's our way of saying 'Life is hard and sometimes brutal. For a day, a week, we're gonna create a zone of safety, and live there.' It's our way of remembering not just what we're fighting against, but for. That's why Pride Day is so important.

The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland-like most every other AIDS organization in America-has its genesis, its nativity, in the community of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who cared, and who acted on that concern and outrage, at a time when few others would, or wanted to. The community continues to sustain our efforts,

knowing that this epidemic is inextricably bound to the dynamics of heterosexism, and that challenging one means challenging both.

In the years since, straight allies have joined the cause, and the work has broadened and deepened, but gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people continue to lead our organizations, staff our programs, fill our volunteer rosters, attend our benefits, and contribute to our fundraising drives. Thanks are not enough for all the community has done. A round of applause, a standing ovation is in order.

And the work goes on. The Taskforce provides case management, food delivery, transports, financial assistance, and a vast array of needed services to hundreds and hundreds of people every year. We're still out there educating, trying to prevent new cases of HIV infection or re-infection in the gay communities, in the communities of color, among women. We still advocate for better laws, more money for people in the spectrum, faster research. The work goes on. We'll be here until it's over, and we know that all of you will too; no doubt we'll see you at the next Taskforce event.

But for now, let's celebrate. A little more sober than in the old days, a little wiser, a little more acquainted with how difficult life is and can be but celebrate, nevertheless. We're still here. We're getting stronger. And someday, we'll all meet again on the beach for the biggest bash of all.

Chrisse France is executive director of the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland.

Video project will give a

face to AIDS statistics

by Tom Rappa

Akron-When Ohio native Vince Morvatz visited the Names Project's AIDS quilt displays in Washington D.C. and subsequent smaller showings in Ohio, he noticed that his friends weren't represented.

Morvatz has been out for the last seventeen years of his life, and has lost over eighty-eight friends, and acquaintances who have battled AIDS.

"I don't want people to just be statistics, I want those numbers to have faces," said Morvatz.

Morvatz has now begun an AIDS Video Remembrance Program in an effort to remember the people he and other Ohioans knew who lost their battle with AIDS.

Morvatz hopes that his video will be as comprehensive as possible, and is soliciting names and images of people so they can be remembered in this project.

“I'm approaching this with the same point of view that the Holocaust Museum takes in documenting the Holocaust, because I think there will be a day when there is an AIDS remembrance museum," Morvatz explains.

Morvatz also said that thirty to sixty people could be documented in 30-minute video seg-

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ments, giving approximately 30 seconds to one minute for each individual.

A portion of Morvatz's work was recently shown at the International Candlelight Memorial and Mobilization March, on May 4 at the Morely Health Center on Broadway Avenue in Akron. The event was part of one of the largest annual

"I don't want people to just be statistics, I want those numbers to have faces.

"

AIDS demonstrations, with candlelight memorials in over 100 cities worldwide.

"People in the crowd were moved. Some said that it was difficult to watch because it reminded them of the loved ones they had lost," said Morvatz.

There have been 1,300 AIDS deaths in Cuyahoga County, with 248 deaths in Summit County and 120 deaths in Stark County.

For more information or to contribute information, contact Vince Morvatz, care of Global Education Foundation, 720 North Main Street, Suite 118, Akron, Ohio 44310, or by phone 330-923-5466.

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