Young, gay and AfricanAmerican: A conversation
by Tracy Jones
Five members of the Young Men who have Sex with Men program at the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland—an initiative funded by the CDC and based on peer education-sat down recently with Taskforce associate executive director Tracy Jones to discuss being young, African America, gay and HIV poitive. What follows is a partial transcript from that conversation. (Each new paragraph is a new speaker.)
Tracy Jones: Tell me what it's like to be young, African American, and gay or lesbian in the age of AIDS. What kinds of challenges do people face?
Society sees us, mostly, as people who are diseased. We're the plague that can destroy mankind.
I don't know. A young person with HIVI think a younger person with HIV is still thinking about the future: I need a girlfriend or a boyfriend, a job, stuff like that.
Being HIV positive and gay and blackit's a triple threat. Everything you do—it's not just about being positive or gay, it's about: can I tell somebody that I'm positive and we're still going to be together; can I tell my friends I'm positive and they're not going to tell everybody else.
We all know that people say, "gay equals HIV." If you could spell them the same, they probably would. Society is not ready and not accepting. And our government is not ready to accept it and try to find a cure.
What differences do you think there are between lesbian women with HIV, and gay men with HIV? Do you think women with HIV are viewed differently?
My aunt, she had AIDS and people accepted her, but my cousin, he died from AIDS and people treated him like he was garbage. They treated her like she was fragile, and my cousin was just treated so badly. It really put him in his grave early because he felt unloved and unwanted.
I know HIV positive straight women, and women with HIV who are bisexual or lesbian. And the ones who were straight who are HIV positive seem more able to come out and say, "yes, I am HIV positive" than the ones who aren't because . . . well, for one thing, a
woman who is HIV positive and calls herself a lesbian, people have to think about how did she catch it, if she caught it from a woman or from a man.
The only reason why I feel differently in my family is because as long as I've been knowing HIV positive people, and working with an AIDS organization, and seeing who is at the frontline making a difference when it comes to HIV and AIDS-I've seen a lot of women. But when I've seen those women, it's been mothers of sons, and it's been sisters and family members. There's more acceptance for some than others. For a black woman, when they're seen having HIV/ AIDS: she's a whore, or she's a crackhead; she's sleeping with everybody and she's probably doing drugs. And that's her punishment.
How are young transgendered people looked at when the community finds out that they're HIV positive—inside the gay community and outside the community?
For the transgender people I know I think it's extra hard. Not only do you have to maintain this front-but at the end of the day, in front of the mirror, you remember, I'm positive; what's tomorrow going to be like?
Labeling every single thing makes it tough. We have to put a name on it; it we don't put a label on it, we feel lost. When I walk into a store, somebody's going to stare at me and try to figure out if I'm a boy or a girl. And even if I speak to them, they're still going to look at me because I have short hair and I'm not wearing a dress, and I have pants on. And even though I'm talking, and I have feminine features in my face, they're still going to see me as a boy because it's easier for them to accept me as a boy: "Boy clothes and short hair-oh, then she's got to be gay then, too." My sexuality is a small part of me, but it's made bigger than what it is. That's a small part about who I am.
Having a job in straight society, I won't go around hiding my face, but it's something I do behind closed doors in my bedroom. It's a small part of what I do in my day-to-day life.
Tracy Jones is the assistant executive director of the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland.
November 28, 2003 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 13
DAVID'S
HOUSE
At David's House Compassion, our mission is simple: to enhance the dignity and quality of life for persons living with HIV/AIDS in the
communities of Northwest Ohio. The only AIDS service organization in the region, we serve people living with HIV by providing critical access to housing, case management, emergency
An AIDS Services financial assistance, transportation, Organization
and food. In addition, our growing education department provides the communities of Northwest Ohio with prevention education and outreach.
Advocating for the Community Supporting the Community
Involving the Community
World AIDS Day Activities 2003
Bowling Green State University-NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and activities Dec. 1st-4th 11am-6pm
Lourdes College AIDS Memorial Quilt display Dec. 1st-5th 9am-5pm
Toledo's WAD Commemoration
At the Maurine Simmons Family Investment Center Dec. 5th 5:30-7pm
For more information, to volunteer, or make a donation, contact
David's House Compassion
at (419)244-6682 or fax (419)249-2741 Visit our website at www.davidshouse.com
Comfort Dental Group
David M. Raiffe, D.D.S. & Asociates 15901 Hilliard Road Lakewood, Ohio 44107 (Corner of Hilliard & Madison)
216-226-3800
MARY STRUBBE
?
Four Marilyns agree: This affair is a hit
A tableful of Marilyn Monroes chat amiably at the November 8 Night Against AIDS fundraiser, this year dubbed “Idyllic Adventures: An Evening of Gods and Goddesses." The event, AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati's 20th annual Night Against AIDS, featured an auction capped off with “Queen City Eyes for the Straight Guy," a package featuring personal and home makeovers, dinner and two tickets to Hairspray at the Aronoff Center. "What a spectacular event," enthused AVOC executive director Victoria Brooks, “a real tribute to those who did the first Night Against AIDS event, and those who have supported AVOC throughout our 20 years of service."
"Janet Ach and her committee produced an evening of fun and fantasy that will be hard to outdo," she concluded.
"Over 400 friends gathered to have fun while remembering the importance of the work done by AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati to provide vitally important services to our community," Ach, the chair of the event, said. The night raised over $90,000 for the organization.
-Anthony Glassman
There's nothing like a Smile that says WOW!
Whitening from your dentist is affordable and can last a lifetime.
whiter brighter faster
ignite the white
ZOOM
Whiten your teeth in just over an hour!
Zoomt in-office tooth whitening is the newest. Tastest technology to whiten your teeth. In just over an hour, you will leave with a brighter smile that makes you look grear, feel better and eager to impress everyone you mezt. Most celebrities whiten their teeth for just these reasons. Now you can, too.
DISCUS
The Zoom: procedure is ideal for those who want immediate results and it's totally safe.
Remember: Only a dentist can get your
teeth their whitest!
Brighten
your smile in
2 hours.
Everyday price: $455
Sale Price:
$400
> >40 400 400 400 400 1000 1000 1000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000
SAVE
$55
Comfort Dental Group
David M. Raiffe, D.D.S. & Asociates 15901 Hilliard Road Lakewood, Ohio 44107 (Corner of Hillard & Madison)
216-226-3800
Zoom! Whitening Certificate
This Zoom Whitening Certificate entries sob 10 great savings. Zoom! In-Office Whder ng wystem was developed by the leader in professional tooth whitening. Discus Dental
DISCUS