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justiout
guest commentary
by Jean Ann Van Krevelen
J
IÑEWSMAGAZINE
It's That Time Again
PAGE 24
APRIL 4, 2008
The resurrection of AIDS activism
his is not just another one of those columns where someone complains
about the lack of AIDS activism in our country. This is a plea for the
T
resurrection of AIDS activism. This is a call to action to members of the
GLBTQ community. We have come together at many points in our
past and changed the course of history. It’s time to do it again.
Here we are, 25-plus years later in the history of AIDS. No doubt we
have been successful with our early advocacy efforts. But have we arrived?
Do we have a vaccine? Do we have fair and equal access to treatment for
all who need it? Can we talk about being positive with our partners and not
worry we will be rejected?
Obviously not. And truthfully, there are only so many times I can talk
about burnout, apathy and disinterest before I become a nag. Really, AIDS
activism is on the verge of becoming one of those causes that is much like
eating vegetables. You know you should do it, it’s good for you, and yet you
struggle to eat that one salad drenched in ranch so you don’t feel guilty.
But just in case you think it’s gone completely, let me tell you about a
small group of HIV-poz folks who are redefining the HIV/AIDS movement
right here in our own.back yard. Cascade AIDS Project is very fortunate to
have a dedicated advocate named Everett Charters. He began his journey
in AIDS activism in the early ’90s when he worked with the San Francisco
Center for Living, a community-based AIDS service organization offering
emotional and practical support to people living with AIDS, later working
as the HIV peer advocate for Sonoma County, Calif.
In 2004, Everett, along with other activists in northern California, be­
gan to create a curriculum that would encourage people living with HIV/
AIDS to take on greater leadership roles in their communities. In 2007, he
brought that training to Oregon and CAP, and the Oregon AIDS Leader­
ship Training was bom.
Having so far graduated 20 HIV-positive advocates, the leadership train­
ing makes up one of the components of the Oregon AIDS Action Network.
Advocates are taught skills that will help manage the systems that affect
them. Participants are also taught advocacy skills that will help them take a
stand for themselves and their peers.
Both leadership training graduates and any community members inter­
ested in AIDS advocacy can become a part of the Oregon AIDS Action
to HIV/AIDS. The membership also includes Eugene’s HIV Alliance, Our
House of Portland, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon's HIV Day Center,
Oregon Health &. Science University’s Partnership Project, Lincoln City’s
Coastal AIDS Network and Corvallis’ Valley AIDS Information Network.
*
Center hosted the next installment in “Our Stories" March 29. With
smiles and tears, we listened to speakers relating their struggles and
triumphs in the AIDS movement. I was deeply touched by the collective
experiences of these great leaders. I left the event feeling uplifted and sad.
Sorrow for those who came before us, the survivors and the lost, but also
sorrow for the movement. There were maybe 25 of us at the center. A small
number, not surprising given the general apathy that plagues our attempts
Q
to re-energize advocacy efforts.
One of the things I learned was that those who came before us sacri­
ficed a great deal to make our world better. They have post-traumatic stress
disorder from dealing with the quantity of loss. They have seen things we
hope never to see again. They have cried endless tears and questioned an
unanswering God. Yet they still remain a part of this cause, they still have
hope, and they need our support to continue.
es, things are different now. People are living longer; there are better
Y
medications. But HIV/AIDS is a cause that is far from finished. There
is no vaccine on the horizon. There is no cure available? People are still
suffering and dying.
We must embrace our history with HIV/AIDS. We have the ability to
redefine our relationship to this disease. We must find new and engaging
ways to reactivate supporters. We must recruit new members to join the
fight. We must learn how people from this generation think about a disease
that has been a part of sexuality since their birth. We have the power to
share our legacy of success with new generations and other oppressed com­
munities so they may be successful, too. By embracing our history with HIV/
AIDS, we make the suffering of those who came before us meaningful.
If we all put forth a bit of effort, we can be very effective and very power­
ful. We are the right people in the right place at the right time to be the
start of a new chapter in the movement that ends AIDS. ©
FEATURE
24 QUEER ALLIES
Straight but not narrow
NEWS
8-17 NORTHWEST
Equal rights repeal initiatives backslide;
Equity Foundation hires new director; gay
group forms at OHSU; Camp Starlight
raises record amount; registration open for
BRO luncheon; “pregnant man” in Bend
garners attention; state Sen. Gary George
racks up fans; state Rep. Kim Thatcher
to gays: Tend to your bank accounts and
stay away from my kids; Barack Obama’s
progressive values resonate with Portland
audience; PDX screenwriter gets big break
20-21 NATIONAL
Experts argue about funding for HIV
vaccine research; H&.R Block accused
of discrimination; contempt conviction
of lesbian mother overturned; legislators
consider name change for domestic part­
nership benefits; gay-bashing case settled
22-23 WORLD
Norway to legalize same-sex mar­
riage; Netherlands plans legalization of
park sex; Spanish gay marriage prime
minister wins re-election; 302 couples
register in Mexico City; Aussie officials
told to detail homosexual experiences;
Iranian fears execution if sent home
Network. Joining this network connects people to a larger network of com­
mitted, compassionate members.
ARTS AND CULTURE
For more information about O regon AIDS A ction N etwork call Everett
Charters at 503-223-5907 or visit www.cascadeaids.org.
44-45 FILM
nd let’s not forget what our agencies are doing. CAP’s Public Policy
A
Committee is alive and kicking and is part of a coalition formed to pro­
vide a cohesive statewide voice for public policy and advocacy issues related
Greg Araki’s 1992 film The Living End has
not aged well; working-class artist hooks
up with rich surfer in the excellent Shelter;
The Times of Harvey Milk documents politi­
cian who attained unlikely level of power
back when homosexuality was despised
J ean A nn V an K revelen is executive director of Cascade AIDS Project, the
largest HIV/AIDS service provider in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
reflections
46 NIGHTLIFE
Titleholders raise money for SMYRC
48-49 CULTURE
10 Years Ago In Just Out... volume 15 number 11, april 3,1998
Portland prepares for the most
elaborate Red Dress Party yet
• Some queer activists are trying to jump-start
April 8. Begun in 1996 at University
Queer film series
the Sexual Minorities Roundtable, which once
of Virginia in Charlottesville, the day
presents the Todd
was treated like a shiny new Christmas toy but
is believed to be the largest national
Haynes classic Su­
has, like the gift, lost its ability to captivate.
youth event of its kind.
perstar: The Karen
Carpenter
Story
50-51 MUSIC
Composer and choral conductor
David York develops career, family
53 FILM
Loving Annabelle is hot stuff;
April's Showers is all wet
• The April 18 shindig It's Raining Men, to be
• Hundreds marched March 8 through
plus selected gay
hosted by Rose City personalities Poison Waters
downtown Nassau, Bahamas, after
shorts for those 21
and Stephen Michael Rondel, will feature a gay
false reports that a visiting cruise ship,
and older, starting
COLUMNS
guy version of The Dating Game as well as a rov­
Holland America's Veendam, was car­
at 9 p.m. All-ages
19 SASSY GARDENER
ing microphone to capture audience insights into
rying gay people. The protesters de­
dancing
"exploring the perils and promises of meeting and
manded new laws banning homosexual sex and
dating gay men in Portland."
gay and lesbian venues.
with
DJ
Dazy begins at 10:30.
• Portland is slated to be among 10 U.S. cities
• It's Queer Night at La Luna every Monday.
Bridges Vocal Ensemble still hopes to pull some
profiled as gay- and lesbian-friendly metropo­
Tonight's event with DJs Alex, Robert and KC
heartstrings with its April 18 concert, Seasons
lises in the June issue of Out magazine.
will benefit Right to Pride's "Take Back the State
of Love. Bridges, which formed eight years ago
in '98" campaign.
as a mixed-gender outgrowth of the Portland
ness-raising event for queer youth, is slated for
Gay Men's Chorus and the Portland Lesbian
• Queer Night goes to the movies! The Reel
35 EPIQUEEREAN
Hold the Bologna
• Valentine's Day may have come and gone, but
• The second National Day of Silence, an aware­
Plants from Another World
Choir, will sing about all things romantic.
41 OUT GOING
Sing, Sing, Sing
43 CORNER VIEW
Life on the B-List (or Better?)
54 JIM'S CLOSET
Skin Deep