Out in the Mountains

 

Just In Case They Thought We Didn't Notice...

(and some girls) in bikini briefs.

The whole sensationalist article
played right into everyone's worst stere-
otypes - continuing to uphold those high
standards we've come to expect from
Donna Donovan and crew.

Despite numerous invitations to do so,
President Bush declined to address the
Sixth International Conference on AIDS in
San Francisco in June.

Butwhat came as more of a surprise to
many was that the day the Conference
opened, Bush was in North Carolina, ad-
dressing a fundraising dinner for Senator
Jesse Helms, the Senate's leading homo-
phobe and author of the infamous "Helms
Amendment" which restricts sexually ex-
plicit AIDS education. I guess Bush just
didn't want to leave us with any doubts
about where he really stands on our lives.

Had George gone to San Francisco, he
probably wouldn't have been warmly re-
ceived anyway. His refusal to change US
immigration policy forbidding HIV posi-
tive visitors from entering the country was
soundly condemned by the conference as
being based in prejudice and disregard of
scientific fact. At the opening session, dele-
gates chanted slogans like "200,000 dead;
where is George?" It made great television.
It was probably the last time the AIDS
conference will be held in this country, at
least until our screwed-up immigration
policy is changed. Plans for Boston in 1992
are being scrapped because of this neander-
thal approach.

Indeed, had the President spoken to the
conference, he probably would have suf-
fered the same fate as his Secretary of
Health and Human Services, Louis Sulli-
van, whose entire speech was drowned out
by ACT UP activists with air sirens (you
know, the kind that burst your ear dnrms at
hockey games), whistles and catcalls while
he was pelted with paper airplanes and
pennies. Eyewimesses said that not a-word
of his speech could be heard inside the
auditorium. It was a fitting fate for an
administration which has continued to hear
not one word we've said either, and has
instead pitched its own pennies at the epi-
demic.

It was justas well thatGeorge stayed in
North Carolina with his good friend Jesse
Helms. It is clearly where he's most com-
fortable.

V V V

Speaking of politicians, Peter Smith
has some explaining to do. When the House
was debating the Americans with Disabili-
ties Act (which prevents discrimination
against people with disabilities and in-
cludes AIDS and HIV), an amendment was
offered to allow food service establish-

10

ments to disriminate against people with
AIDS. It was a close vote, and our Con-
gressman joined William Dannemeyer and
the other right wingers to allow discrimina-
tion against food servers with AIDS, de-
spite the strong objections of public health
officials and scientists. C1" he amendment
passed, but was later taken out in a confer-
ence committee.)

Come on, Peter. You know better.
Let's keep an eye out to see what kind of
PAC contributions Smith picks up from the
restaurant and food service industry special
interests.

V V V

With all the news of federal AIDS cuts
to the state health department budget, isn't
it about time that people started asking
(loudly) where the state money for AIDS
is? Why is Vermont one of just five states
that doesn't allocate a single dime of state
money for education and prevention or for
services to people with AIDS/HIV? Even
New Hampshire and Mississippi spend
state money; isn't it time we got with the
picture? Let's start asking Peter Welch and
Dick Snelling and all the legislative candi-
dates if they are willing
to support a line item
for AIDS programs.

V V V

Why on Earth did
the Free Press decide
to run that article in
July about the accused
child molester who
said he had AIDS?
Even they admitted
that his claim to have
AIDS was possibly]
probably a hoax - so
much for the journalis-
tic standards of check-
ing your facts first.

That probably
doesn't matter to the
folks down at the USA
Today Clone - after all,
screaming headlines
about a child molester
with AIDS (on the top
of page one, of course)
are bound to sell pa-
pers. Especially if you

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combine that with
some downright lurid
descriptions of what he
allegedlydidwithboys

Brattleboro, Vt. 05302

P.O. Box 1212