From First World to Third
An eye-opening trip to South Africa's backwoods
by Tyler TerMeer
In September, my partner Charlie Gray and I set off on a firstto third-world journey through the heart of South Africa. The cities we visited mirrored a large metropolis like any other. However, a few miles outside these cities, the reality of a third-world country was at hand.
While many of the stereotypes of visiting Africa held true, many were thrown out of the window. We found it to be incredible that same-sex marriage is legal in a country that lacks reliable running water, electricity, and other amenities, which went through years of apartheid and its aftermath, yet here in the richest country in the world we cannot recognize the rights of our LGBT citizens. After an 18-hour flight from JFK to Johannesburg, we arrived in South Africa for our two-week sojourn. There we met Charlie's sister Sarah Gray, a Peace Corps volunteer working a 22-year stint.
We headed to Cape Town, where we stayed for two nights and were stunned at the beautiful scenery. We visited the standard tourist sites, saw a few lesser-known attractions like a downtown craft market, and experienced the nightlife.
We then drove all the way up the coast from Cape Town to Sarah's village near Nelspruit. This meant several days of long driving but unbelievable views of mountains, coastline, and villages.
One of the most memorable days of our experience in Africa was at the Amazing Grace Children's Orphanage. It was incredible to see how happy these children were despite the conditions in which they were living. The majority of them had been removed from their villages as a result of abuse and many were living with or affected by HIV. We wanted so badly to take several of the children home with us, especially one small boy who quickly fell in love with the one-on-one attention Charlie was able to give him.
Next we visited "Block B," Sarah's home village during her service in South Africa. No running water, a 10 by 10-foot room, and a pit toilet about 50 feet down a long dusty path would be our accommodations over the next several days. During our time in Block B we visited the three schools in which Sarah teaches, made several new friends, and saw the HIV testing and advocacy center.
As someone who is living with HIV, seeing the epidemic in another country was an amazing experience for me. I left the United States with an idea of what I would see in Africa-sick people—and quickly learned that stigma is real everywhere. Even in countries completely taken over by this virus, where funerals are happening daily, the lack of education, fear, and silence are still ever-present.
The silence around the AIDS epidemic in South Africa was frightening. I had to engage people in conversation to even hear or see anything about it, and even then the subject was often changed.
I did have the opportunity to speak with several Peace Corps volunteers, educational administrators, and South African villagers about the epidemic, and the reality that I was faced with paralleled the silence surrounding the epidemic here in the U.S. People struggle with being open about their status out of fear of being pushed out of their family or village. If you are sick, you are at home or in a home-based care facility, and
when you pass away, you die of "cancer" or another ailment, never something HIV-related.
The government does little to help as poverty, hunger, and crime are a higher priority. One astonishing sight was billboards at the entrances to several villages marking them as "HTA" or High Transmission Areas. My jaw literally dropped!
While same-sex marriage has been legalized in the country, there is still a large stigma, because of the lack of communication or visible acceptance of anything "outside the box." I cannot imagine being openly gay within this country, let alone getting married.
Overall, we had a wonderful experience. We were most impressed with the infrastructure, friendliness of the people, and value of the trip once we arrived. The experience for me as someone not only living with HIV but as a gay man working in the field was breathtaking and amazing, yet tragically heartwrenching.
Tyler Termeer, of Columbus, is the director of programming for the Ohio AIDS Coalition.
Royal Caribbean
INTERNATIONAL
Get out thereR
Cruise Adventure Travel Presents LGBT-Friends of Dorothy
Exotic Eastern Caribbean Cruise Vacation Aboard Liberty of the Seas Freedom Class Ship 7 Nights Departing May 10, 2008 from Miami Florida
Ports of Call: Miami, FL-San Juan, Puerto Rico Philipsburg, St. Maarten Labadee, Haiti
Bring your friends, your family, your lover-just imagine the people you'll meet and the places you'll see
While onboard enjoy: Flow Rider Surfing H2O Zone
Chiropractic Health Services, Inc.
DAVID A. BUDNY, D.C.
16900 DETROIT AVE LAKEWOOD, OHIO 44107 216-228-6622
Dedicated to your wellness
Rock-Climbing Wall Ice-Skating Rink
Royal Promenade-Main Street USA. Full Size Flat-Screen TVs in Every Stateroom Adventure Ocean Youth Facilities Fitness Center and Day Spa Boxing Ring Casino RoyaleSM,
Solarium Adult-Only Pool Full-size Sports Court Mini-Golf Course
Portofino Italian Restaurant Chops Grille
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Vintages Wine Bar
Broadway-Style Theatre
November 30, 2007 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 7
All we should want for Christmas is a cure
Huntington Mortgage Group
Many lenders come and go...
Huntington 140 years of being your Hometown Lender
We're sure you've heard the many media reports recently of trouble in the mortgage
industry. We want you to know that Huntington Mortgage Group is still committed to helping you with your mortgage needs.
Since 1866, Huntington has worked at building a good name and a trustworthy reputation. The only thing tougher than that is keeping it.
That's why with each service we offer, we recognize the need to provide you with more than just an answer. We need to provide you with the right solution. Give you the right direction. Offer you the right choice. Because if we don't, we'll never get the chance to assist your friend, your relative or your associate.
Please let us know how we can help you with your mortgage needs. We'll do what we've been doing for years. We'll do what's right. Call us today and let us show you our dedication to service!
LENDER
Thomas Rankin
Mortgage Loan Officer 440-527-0266 office 877-826-0638 e-fax thomas.rankin@huntington.com
Huntington Mortgage Group is a division of The Huntington National Bank
Hometown Bank
dao Huntington are federally registered service marks
of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated Member FDIC 2007 Huntington Bancshares lacorporated (0807)
216.798.4100 chris schlenkerman
chris@progressiveurban.com
· •
•
All this and MORE for only:
from $590* USD
Promenade Stateroom
from
$735 USD
Superior Oceanvieva Stateroom
$100 on board credit per stateroom Group Cocktail Party
If you would like more information or to book your LGBT Caribbean Cruise, please call
Christine at 866-371-7464 ext. 111 (toll free) or email christine@cruiseadventuretravel.com
Sherry at 866-371-7464 ext. 116 (toll free) or email sherry@cruiseadventuretravel.com *price quoted per guest and does not include port charges taxes
real estate consulting & sales Downtown loft condo, 1 BR 144.9k Westside Flats condo, 2 BR .......324.7k Westside condo, 2 BRs, parking .....69k Tremont single, 3 BRs, like new.. 149.5k Tremont single, 3 BRs, rehab .189.9k 234.9k
OPEN SUNDAY 12/2/07 Tremont. 3 BRs + guest house
4607 Franklin Blvd.
3 BR 1 Bth... $127,500
.....
.....
3 Brick Row Houses Tremont condo, 2 BRs, unique .. 284.9k Tremont twnhse condo, 2 BRs... 349.9k 2 to 4:00 349.9k Tremont single, 3 BRs, views Det Shore single, 2 BRs, unique.... 245k Det Shore single, 2 BRs, rehab... 149.9k Oh City row house, 3 BRs, nice...127.5k Oh City single, 2 BRs, updated.. 159.9k Oh City single, 2 BRs, 169.9k garage 179.9k Oh City single, 3 BRs, rehab
4615 Franklin Blvd.
2 BR 1 Bth... $122,500
1773 W47th St.
2 BR 2 Bth... $144,900
All units have basements & parking.
only $948.90 per month Oh City single, 2 BRs, modern
"purchase price of $122.500 w/ 5% down, loan amount of $116,375 w/ annual int. rate of 6.5%, $173.33/mo. taxes. $40/mo. insurance
PROGRESSIVE
REAL
P
ESTATE
...
...... 183k
Oh City condo end unit, 2 BRs... 248.5k
now is a great TIME to BUY
URBAN
INC.
full representation available to buyers
Downtown Public Sq....2BRs from 284.9k Ohio City NEW loft condos.. From 154.5k Ohio City classic 3BRs renovated 239.9k Ohio City 2 houses 3 units $$.........199.9k Ohio City double w/owners suite..169.9k Ohio City single 4BRs rehab..... .155k Ohio City affordable double........104.9k Ohio City sturdy fixer w/updates....69.9k Det Shore true live-work loft.........129.9k Det Shore single 3BR rehab...
.122.5k
PARK
BUILDING
216.798.4100
jim anderson 216.961.5959
janderson@progressiveurban.com
Ohio City 169,900 2-unit w/larger
owners
suite.
Centrally located
Shoreway 129,900
2000 s/f
live/work
1400sf
studio
600sf
suite
OPEN SUN 2nd, 2-4p 140 Public Sq
⚫ est. 1904.