AIDS p a ra n o ia
by Billy Russo
Anger and fear cloud the issues surround­
ing the “viral terror,” as the presence of the
AIDS virus becomes an issue in Roseburg.
And these emotions are being fueled by our
age-old nemesis, homophobia.
At the December Winston-Dillard school
board meeting a local doctor expressed his
concern about the AIDS epidemic. Accord­
ing to the News-Review, Roseburg’s daily
paper, Dr. Dan Harper recommended people
with AIDS be treated "like lepers." Harper
went on to say that the “ Communicable Dis-
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The
Roseburg
Report
ease Center” (sic) predicts that within five
years, one-third of the world’s population will
have the dreaded disease."
In a telephone conversation with the good
doctor he stated to me that he feels an Old
Testament solution is in order. He wouldn't
elaborate, but he said that he feels the gov­
ernment is covering up the true dangers of
this medical condition to prevent a brutal
witchhunt against homosexuals and that the
disease is far more transmissible than the
government is reporting. He bases his claims
on an article he.read in Time Magcuine.
That same month a native Oregonian was
involved in a one car accident ten miles south
of town. An amublance was dispatched from
Winston-Dillard Fire and Rescue. Once the
man was inside the emergency vehicle he
informed the paramedics that he had had a
positive reaction to the antibody test The
attendants put on rubber gloves and contin­
ued their routine procedures. Nothing else
was said.
At Douglas Community Hospital the man
also informed the Emergency Room staff.
They also conducted themselves profession­
ally. According to the accident victim, he
didn’t have any problems until it came time
for x-rays. He said that an administrator ap­
peared on the scene and after a few words
from her the rebellious technicians x-rayed
his broken bones.
The following week his employment was
terminated. His ex-boss asked why he hadn't
told her that he was an "AIDS carrier." And his
employer was not the only one notified. That
same day someone called the News-Review
and said that Winston-Dillard had treated a
man with AIDS. Roseburg’s daily is pursuing
the story.
Unbeknownst to most, the virus has been
in Roseburg for a number of years. In 1980 a
man who grew up here returned to Roseburg
after living in the Castro district for over a
decade. He came home to a loving family,
looking for healing.
During 1979 he contracted strep throat
seven times. He lost a lot of weight and ex­
perienced drenching night sweats. He was
always short of breath and tired. He also was
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plagued by intestinal parasites, herpes and
warts. Suspecting cytomegalovirus (CAW)
his doctor sent him to UC Medical Center
where he underwent extensive testing for
GRID, Gay Related Immune Deficiency. GRID
was eventually renamed AIDS.
The tests were inconclusive. Frightened
and confused, he returned to his family in
Douglas County. Eventually the symptoms
completely disappeared and his health
returned. He recently took the "test" And yes,
he carries the antibody to the suspected AIDS
virus.
Another native of this area had a similar
experience in 1982 while in the Navy. At that
time the medical profession was testing for
inverted "T-cell” ratios to determine the pre­
sence of AIDS. His T-cell count was down. He
also changed his life-style. And eventually his
T-cell ratio, and his health, returned to
normal.
Dr. Sharon Thrall, Douglas Couty's Public
Health Officer, recently announced that 12
people have been tested locally, and three
homosexual men had positive reactions to
the antibody. Fearing a lack of confidentiality
a number of locals have traveled to Eugene
and Portland for the test where they used a
pseudonym. There are also men in this com ­
munity experiencing AIDS-like symptoms:
palpable superficial lymph nodes, persistent
flu-like symptoms and/or thrush. While they
fearfully wade through the mountains of mis­
information, they are bombarded by careless
hcmophobic AIDS coverage from the media
and insensitive homophobic remarks from
their peers.
Currently I know of one Person With AIDS
(PWA) living in the Roseburg area. He stays
away from almost everyone. His doctor is in a
metropolitan area and he commutes hun­
dreds of miles when in need of treatment. I
fear that he’s not the only one living like this.
And I dread the day when he, or another PWA,
needs immediate medical attention and is
F O R W A R D
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= o EA R
forced to go to a local hospital.
Although the com m unity has been sup­
portive as a whole, there are those who get
caught up in their fears. One couple asks
other women who associate with gay men to
bring their own tea cup when visiting. Others
simply don't want to be touched by male
homosexuals. And at least one woman feels
that people who test positive to the suspected
AIDS virus should be thusly labeled: she's
angry because she knows the man in the
automobile accident and would have treated
him differently had she known he tested posi­
tive. Indications are that many men are sim i­
larly misinformed. But men being men. they
are not as vocal about their feelings.
My own homophobic reaction has been to
let it be known that I continue to be affetionate
with my brothers who have been exposed to
the virus. If that makes some uncomfortable,
they can choose to avoid me. That’s fine. I
respect their space. But to me, it’s
homophobia.
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