Out in the Mountains . February 1936 C Page 8 (conllnuedlrom page7) Bodyworks health problem in being lesbian or gay. So let's focus instead on health from a lesbian/gay perspective. Now we have lots of choices. What's the latest information on AIDS and risk reduction? Do you want to hear about sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s)'.7 How about obesity? Anorexia? What's new with depression? Homophobia? Alcoholism? What about artificial insemination? Pregnancy? Are you interested in the side effects of drugs, food additives, or computer terminals? We are not health care professionals. We are two concerned individuals, a gay man and a lesbian, deeply aware of the difficulty of getting answers to the health questions of our community. It is our plan to sift through the sources available and find the answers you need. We will read what is printed, interview doctors and psychologists, and visit health care centers, as necessary, to find the answers. Next month we will discuss how to choose and evaluate a counsellor or psychologist using a recently published book, "The Lavender Couch." Send your ideas and questions to Bodyworks, "Out in the Mountains", P.O. Box 438, Hinesburg, VT 05461. Ask us and we’ll try to find the answer. (conllnued lrom page 1) Civil ri hts are generally gnsidered to be civil rights set forth in the beginning of this article, it is quite clear that there are no protections afforded to the civil rights of lesbians and gay men. There are no protections for the rights of property. Certainly lesbians and gay men are not entitled to marry. There is considerable evidence to substantiate the claim that lesbians and gay men are not afforded the protection of laws provided to the rest of society, and it is also clear that lesbian and gay men do not have the same freedom to contract that is available to others in the State. Proposals have been made in some cities, states and in the U.S. Congress to extend the basic protections of the law to the civil rights of lesbians and gay men. No such legislation is pending in Vermont. It would seem that this is a concept whose time has come. AIDS in the Mind . of America Book review by Terje Anderson "AIDS in the Mind of America" by Dennis Altman Doubleday, 1986, $16.95 As the AIDS crisis enters its sixth year, the volume of literature seeking to explain or deal with the epidemic continues to grow. The first major book on the political and social aspects of AIDS, Dennis Altman's "AIDS in the Mind of America", represents a significant contribution to our understanding of the way in which public perceptions of, and reactions to, the epidemic have developed. The central theme of the book is reflected in Altman’s contention that "the course of an epidemic is shaped not just by the infectious organism and the medical response, but also by the historical setting in which it occurs." Altman, a gay Australian political scientist and sociologist who has authored several influential books on lesbian/gay issues, is particularly well-suited to place AIDS in historical context. As a social scientist, he looks insightfully at the forces which have shaped the way both gay and straight America view AIDS. As a foreigner living in the United States, he is attuned to aspects of American culture which we may easily overlook. As a gay man, he imbues his entire account with first hand experience and deep personal concern. Altman argues convincingly that AIDS has emerged in a unique historical environment. The growth and acceptance of the lesbian/gay movement of the 1970's created the very concept of a community based on sexual orientation. Coupled with the growth of the radical right wing and a President committed to lessening government involvement in protecting the health and welfare of its citizens, the result has been the intense politicalization and marginalization of AIDS. if mt‘. §oi£iss..nms¥ic.§i. .«a<~}s~.‘§\ms{.<>i;a:.>.i swat:-s § . as 9\ ;°&§.-W ¥'.(‘ii3§3\,’A§