April 1988 Vermont Response to AIDS Conference Set The first Vermont statewide confer- ence on AIDS will be held at Goddard Col- lege in Plainfield from April 15 to 17. Organized by Vermont C.A.R.E.S., and co-sponsored by more than 20 commu- nity groups and government agencies, “The Vermont Response to AIDS” will be a weekend of learning, information shar- ing, networking, relaxing, and socializing. More than 35 workshops and meet- ings on a variety of AIDS related topics will take place during the weekend. The work- , shops will cover a wide range, with special- ized topics for health care workers, coun- sellors, social workers, women, gay men, ' lesbians, people with AIDS, friends and family members, volunteers, educators, and other audiences. The conference site is wheelchair accessible and interpretation will be available for the hearing impaired. “We are very excited about this con- ference. The chance for people from across Vennont concerned about AIDS to meet and begin working together is an important step in building a statewide response to the growing epidemic here in Vermont” said Steve Shepard, Chair of Vermont C.A.R.E.S. “It is this kind of networking and information sharing that Vermont C.A.R.E.S. was created for in the first place.” The weekend’s cost is $60 per per- son, including meals and lodging. Registra- tion for meals and workshops only is $50, and registration for workshops only is $40. (Overnight facilities are triple occupancy; double and single rooms are available at a slightly higher cost.) Work credit and full and partial scholarships are available for those unable to afford the full registration fee. (People with AIDS and ARC are eligible for com- pletely subsidized registration.) “We don’t want cost to be a factor that keeps anyone away from this important event” said Terje Anderson, Executive Di- rector of Vermont C.A.R.E.S. “We are de- termined to have the widest cross section of Vermont possible at the conference.” The deadline for conference regis- tration is April 7. More details about con- ference events and a workshop schedule is Response to Survey: Jesse Takes a Stand Presidential candidate Jesse J ackson’s response to a survey circulated by the Na- tional Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) expresses the candidate’s strong support for full civil rights for lesbians and gay men. Summary of Jackson survey: Civil Rights -Supports passage of federal gay/les- bian rights bill and supports full civil and legal rights for lesbians and gay men; will fightanyrestrrictions based on sexual orien- lation. -Is committed to issuing Presidential Executive Order banning discrimination in the federal government, including the mili- W)’; would extend order to cover all gov- ernment contractors; sees order being sup- pigmented by a congressional gay rights 1 . Lesbian/Gay Families . -Supports lesbian and gay partners being afforded benefits accorded to hetero- sexual partners. _ -Platform of campaign recognizes diversity within the human family; sup- Ports full civil rights for gay people. -Supports right of gay people to desig- nate survivors and dependents; supports gay peop1e’s right to child custody. AIDS Policies _-Supports National Academy of Sci- ences $2 billion target, but notes that this may not be an adequate amount. -Supports making catastrophic insur- ance available as a right; supports federally quaranteed access to treatments and care; supports creation of stop-loss or reinsur- ance pools. -Supports broad, frank AIDS educa- tion; believes such education should “con- front homophobia, the irrational and divi- sive fear, the racism, the victim-blaming that impact our efforts to combat this dis- ease.” -Supports federal legislation banning discrimination against people with AIDS . or PHV infection. -Opposes Reagan Justice Department’s interpretation that federal disability laws do not cover people with AIDS or HIV infection. -Supports Federal AIDS Policy ACT, H.R. 307/S_.1575. -Opposes mandatory testing. -Supports the creation of an office of Gay/Lesbian Health Concerns in the Public Health Service. As of February 1, Mr. Jackson is the sixth candidate to respond to the NGLTF survey. Responses have also been received from Paul Simon, Richard Gephardt, Mi- chael Dukakis, George Bush and Bruce Babbitt. available by calling or writing Vermont C.A.R.E.S. at 863-2437, Box 5248, Burl- ington, VT 05402. On Sunday afternoon, immediately following the conference, the Vennont C.A.R.E.S. annual general membership meeting will be held. The meeting will elect v officers and board members, set major or- ganizational policy, and deal with minor housekeeping details. That meeting is open to all members of Vermont C.A.R.E.S., whether they attend the conference or not, and no registration fee is required. "Purple Heart" Record review by Heather Wishik On April 1, Michael Ca1len’s album “Purple Heart” is being released. Callen is one of the three co-authors of the hit song “Love Don’tNeed a Reason.” Those of you who have read Randy Shilts’ And the bang P_layeg1_Q_r1 have also run into Callen, one of the leaders of the people with AIDS move- ment. ' A talented songwriter, singer and pianist, Callen has recorded a wonderful album consisting of his own songs as well as a few by other gay artists. AIDS is clearly a central theme, but don’t let that make you think that this music is merely depressing. The uptempo “Living in Wartime” will help get some righteous anger flowing, and the equally toe-tapping “How to Have Sex” will probably make most listeners dance while laughing and crying too (the chorus line is “How to have sex in an epidemic, without getting caught up in polemic). On a more subdued note, “Talking Old Sol- diers,” co-authored by Bernie Taupin (of past Elton John collaboration), is a poign- ant look at what it feels like to outlive most of one’s friends. And Callen has included his own version of “Love Don’t Need a Reason.” The album is available by mail for $10 from Significant Other Records, PO Box 1525, Canal Street Station, New York, NY 10013.