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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1991)
IM I T 3 Ten years There is a great deal of sorrow and anger in our community around AIDS by Mica Smith 7 ? & n rt WOMEN ARTISTS SALE 4 ^ M D yourself Outl'i '0) raw 274-9591 Ann H in d s an m edium Fine Arts, Wearables, Jewelry, Ceramics, Ritual Objects, Furniture and more 237 NW 14th (Everett) December 5th - 8th Thur and Fri % l)> k BLUESTONE HOCKLEY & Sat and Sun orld AIDS Day always leaves me “feeling,” and this year is Sierra Lonepine Briano Mar Goman Margaret Sears certainly no exception. Forme, REALTY. INC Chris Rodack Elizabeth Craig NeeShonee Sue Dodge it is a time of reflection, a time to wonder about what the future For all your commercial leasing, holds. Since my belief system says that life is partly about lessons and learning, I keep trying to sales, and management needs understand the who, what, where, when and why’s M ark J. Bans, DC of AIDS. I don’t yet have all the answers, but I Chiropractic Physician have come to Vioe President know some things. 222-3807 I know that our Traditional chiropractic and non-force community is A proud member of Portland's gay techniques available filled with incred community for more than 20 years. 10555 SE 82nd Ave., Suite 102 ible human beings. 4445 S.W. Barbur Blvd.( Portland, Oregon 97201 There are thou Res. 281-9507 503 * 659*4908 sands of us who have given of our selves, our time, our energy, our money, our love, and our lives to this cause. We’ve learned how to organize so that people with HIV disease will get the care and treatment they need and deserve. My heart swells with pride, not only because of our accomplishment, but also for the outpouring of kindness we have found within ourselves. I know that our community has lost incredible human beings as well. For many of us there is a profound sadness in the loss of so many of our lovers, friends and family. We will never be the same, not as individuals, not as a community. Who would have thought, 10 years ago, that one day we’d find ourselves walking around panels of a quilt, listening to people read off name after name after name of those who have died from AIDS? Who would have thought, 10 years ago, that each year we might be lighting candles at a vigil, to honor those deaths, to share something of our sadness in the spirit of a community? I know that our community has a great deal of anger. Anger that the leader of our nation couldn ’ t even say the word AIDS until it was too late. Anger that those elected to office weren’t taking the issues related to the epidemic, or us, seriously. Anger that life saving drugs were nofavailable in time to help save some of the thousands of lives MAN TO MAN lost. And, today, anger that within days of an A Session in Eroticizing Safer Sex nouncing his HIV status. Magic Johnson sud denly becomes a spokesperson for AIDS. Where’s For Gay and Bisexual Men he been for the last 10 years? I know our community has faced this chal Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-9 pm lenge head on. We have persisted in our work to ensure that the needs of people with AIDS are not 3835 SW Kelly St. ignored. We have lobbied for legislation to pro tect us. We have created systems of care, advocacy and education. We have held each other, dried BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS each others tears, fed each other, and supported with Dates, Lovers, Friends and Family each other. We have buried each other. It seems to me that the operative word is WE. HIV Monthly Forum Ten years ago, WE meant the lesbian and gay in each community. However, as time has passed Tuesday, December 17, 7-9:30 pm. more people have become involved in the fight 3835 SW Kelly St. against AIDS. If the challenges that face us in the years ahead are to be met we need to ask the Magic Johnsons of the world to JOIN us in the fight. WE have been saying for years that AIDS is not a gay " disease. WE need to invite others to come and SHARE with us in this struggle. At least for the foreseeable future, we are still going to need to hold each other, dry each others tears, feed each CASCADE AIDS PROJECT other and support each other. WE means ALL of us affected by AIDS. PREVENTION/OUTREACH SERVICES 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm W 10:00 am - 6:00 pm SPEAHNG OUT call D ick Levy G IIT W RAP This Holiday Season Show Them How Much You Care...... Wrap That Special Gift in Latex "Wishing You a H appy, S exy, a n d H ealth y H oliday S ea so n Mica Smith is the chairperson of the board of the Cascade AIDS Project. 223-5907 V/TDD