Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 30, Ed. 1 Friday, December 8, 2006 Page: 37 of 84
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World AIDS Day: After thoughts
It's time to focus on the AIDS epidemic in the United States
and not give all the attention to the infected in Third World countries
Now that World AIDS Day has
come and gone, I'm sure that
everyone who participated in it
has a warm glow of satisfaction
that they have helped make the
world a better place.
I'm sorry people are still con-
tacting HIV and dying of AIDS,
but as a man long involved in
AIDS issues I find myself having
dyspeptic, even bitter thoughts
about the whole thing.
I'm tired of the self-satisfied,
sanctimonious politicians and
celebrities who have come late to
AIDS as an issue and profess
concern about AIDS around the world but never
bothered to say or do anything when AIDS was
sweeping through the gay community in the US.
in the 1980s and early 1990s.
It's nice that a singer named Bono cares about
AIDS among heterosexuals in Africa. But when
it was gay men in the U.S., where was he? Or
now? The same is even truer for many American
celebrities who belatedly express concern about
AIDS. Where were they then?— particularly
those who always tell gay reporters they are so
grateful to their gay fans. What did they do to
help keep some of those fans alive?
Bill Clinton is trying to burnish his legacy by
getting cheap HIV drugs for the poor in Third
World countries. Fine. But when he was presi-
dent where was that "Manhattan Project on
AIDS" gays urged on him? Where were the
directives to the National Institutes of Health?
Where were the tax write-offs for private AIDS
and HTV drug research? Where were the AIDS
public education campaigns in the U.S.? Even
now he seems more interested in Third World
countries than gays and minorities in the U.S.
President Bush, too, has made noises about
AIDS in Africa, but said little or nothing about
AIDS in the country he is president of where
many of the infected are gay.
Where is the U.S. surgeon general? Is he or she
being held in an undisclosed location? Years ago,
when Everett Koop was surgeon general, a friend
who had AIDS had an occasion to meet him.
Explaining that he was gay and had AIDS, he
thanked Koop for all he was doing to promote
AIDS awareness and reduce stigma.
Koop replied soberly, "I am the surgeon gen-
eral of all the people." Is his successor the sur-
geon general of any of the people?
The Centers for Disease Control and
Paul Varnell
The Cutting Edge
Prevention got into the act by put-
ting out the same boilerplate sta-
tistic of 40,000 new HIV infec-
tions a year that they have been
issuing for more than a decade.
Doesn't it seem strange that the
rate hasn't changed despite all the
CDC's AIDS prevention pro-
grams and even though current
AIDS drugs reduce viral loads,
ostensibly reducing transmissibil-
ity? Face it: Their numbers are
guesses. They're making this
stuff up.
Come to think of it, it's been a
while since I saw a safe-sex mes-
sage. Are they still around? Do we know if they
do any good? Maybe the only really effective
safe sex message was watching friend after
friend get sick and die. We're not seeing much of
that now. Draw your own conclusions.
Lest anyone think that focusing on AIDS in the
U.S. is just about white people, recall that the
fastest growing infection rates are among
African-Americans and Latinos — many gay,
but a higher percentage of heterosexuals than
among whites. Why?
The most efficient sexual transmission route
for HIV is anal sex. The higher rates of HIV
infection among gay and heterosexual blacks and
Hispanics are likely due in part to their higher
rates of anal sex. Black men reported rates of anal
sex in their last sexual encounter 50 percent high-
er than whites; Mexican-American men reported
rates 30 percent higher, and non-Mexican
Hispanics reported rates three times that of
whites. For many heterosexual minority males
one advantage of anal sex is that it does not cause
pregnancy so it can be done "raw" — i.e., with-
out a condom. Effective AIDS prevention among
minority heterosexuals would stress using con-
doms even for anal sex. Don't expect it.
No data exist on rates of oral and anal sex
among Latino gays, but black gays reported a
much greater desire for and frequency of anal sex
than white gays.
Whatever the reason, the CDC should promote
a harm reduction strategy, urging oral instead of
anal sex among gays, since even uncondomized
oral sex has a far lower rate of HIV transmission.
It won't.
Many of Paul Vaniell s pi~evious columns are
posted at the Independent Gay Forum at
www. indegayfomm. org.
E-mail is PvarneH0aol.com
)A
r?; > f-J&m
My -Theory 15 -THAT
STRAIGHT PEOPLE
WORK SO HARD ALL
YEAR TO SUPPRESS
THEIR "INNER GAY,"
-THAT THEY JUST
CAN'T STOP IT FROM
BURSTING OUT COME
DECEMBER.
© e-mail: EditorialCartoon@qsyndicate.com
letters
What is TCC thinking?
First the Turtle Creek Chorale announced Tim
Seelig is retiring, yet lie's not leaving the organiza-
tion. That sounds a lot like the infamous Criswell
"retirement" at First Baptist Church, and we all
know how awkward that turned out.
Then we learn the new board chair is a singing
member (against TCC by-laws), most of the board
members are singing members (against TCC by-
laws), and the organization is adopting a "family
business" operating model. That sounds awfully
incestuous. There's a reason the artists at the Dallas
Symphony, DTC and the Dallas Opera don't con-
trol their boards — it's inappropriate.
A non-profit is not a family business, a secret
club or a special fraternity. It's a public trust.
Independent, diversified, governing boards are an
integral part of any successful non-profit. While
Seelig may never have accepted this, it would be a
mistake for membership to share his folly. I hope
the TCC will reconsider the direction it is headed.
Hie financial health, credibility and legitimacy of
the organization depends on it.
Mark Burton,
former TCC board member
Baby, it's cold outside
Your Life+Style Caught on Camera — "Baby,
it's cold outside" — was great. Catching Frank
TO SEND A LETTER
We welcome letters from readers. Shorter letters are more
likely to be printed, as are those that address only a single
topic. On some weeks we receive more letters than we
can print. In that case, we print a representative sample.
Letters are subject to editing for length and clarity, but we
attempt to maintain the writer's substance and tone.
Include your home address and a daytime phone number
for verification Send letters to the senior editor, preferably
by e-mail (editor@dallasvoice.com). Letters also may be
faxed (214-969-7271) or mailed (Dallas Voice, 4145 Travis
St., Third Floor, Dallas, TX 72504).
Luera on the street proved to be a most entertaining
read. I don't think I laughed so much about one's
fashion faux pas; nothing pretentious about Frank.
Then to have Frank also getting caught with two
newspapers when only paying for one — too funny.
When I go to the Black Eyed Pea Restaurant where
Frank is a waiter, I always ask for his area because
he can be just as entertaining in person.
Jesus Chafrez
Dallas
Schrader is a true heroine
Thank you for the recent article marking Sue
Sclirader's 25th anniversary at Cathedral of Hope.
Over these past 25 years, she has been responsible
for more growth and advancement in our commu-
nity than many people realize. Never seeking the
spotlight, she has served us all with enthusiasm and
integrity. I tip my hat to a real heroine.
Randy S. Sprabary
Baltimore, Md.
44
"[DISD doesn't] let us say the word con-
dom. Personally, I think it's insulting,
because the pregnancy and syphilis
rates in this county show that young
people are having sex, and
all you're allowed to say
is don't do it.'
44
"It gives you the sensation of ewww.
I guess that's the best way
to describe it."
Wayne Beasley, about learning a man he played
pool with has confessed to rapingand killing g3
men in southeast Louisiana
44
44
"Take a few moments to understand
what is going on around you."
Dallas, Police Department officer Keith Allen
about the need fof peopte to be careful
during; the holidays
44
Raeline Nobte%
executive director, AIDS Arms
44
"A prearranged, prepaid funeral does-
n't matter when the next of kind inter-
venes. You need to list an agent that
you know will look out for your best
wishes."
Joel Lagarine, legal: director,
Dallas Legal HospiCe
44
44
12.08.06 I dallas voice I 37
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Nash, Tammye. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 30, Ed. 1 Friday, December 8, 2006, newspaper, December 8, 2006; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth238938/m1/37/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.