Out in thellfountains

affirmed and so versed in dealing with
aggression based on who I am (not who I
"choose to be," as later stated by the staff),
my progress would have not just come to a
screeching halt (as it did), but I would have
been set back to the point of suicidality.

How can these people say that their
"mental health unit" is a safe place for
everyone when they clearly mean that it is
safe for every heterosexual? It will take
more than a three hour or so workshop on
gay sensitivity/gay issues to make these
people understand that everyone needs and
deserves a safe place, especially in times of
such crises.

Serena D. Dickson

Shelbume, Vermont

Dear OIT M :

Thanks for existing and for distribut-
ing your newspaper through drop-spots as
well as subscriptions. I had been mulling
over a number of questions/doubts about
my sexual orientation for several months
when I happened to see a stack of OITM in
the health food store. I hesitated briefly,
then quickly (and I hope unobtrusively)
stuffed one in my bag.

That was back in September, and I
think I'm ready to subscribe now.

The October issue is probably respon-
sible for my decision to drop you folks a
line and a check. The different articles
about people coming out, National Coming
Out Day (I never would have guessed there

would be a day for it!), and the "Coming
Out: Steps. You Can Take" article pushed
me a little farther along in my journey to
redefine myself. Right now I'm still work-
ing on telling my cat and myself that I'ma
lesbian, so the other steps will have to wait
for a bit.

In the meantime, I'll eagerly await the
good and not-so—good news in each OIT M.
Thanks again for being there!

Sincerely,

Jennifer

Dear OITM:

Thank you for the November OITM
cover article of the Philip Monis/Bill of
Rights action. It was an exciting day that
saw the birth of AC1‘ UP/V T (Aids Coali-
tion to Unleash Power).

We are a non-partisan group of people
distressed by lack of worldlnationallstatel
local attention being paid to the AIDS cri-
sis. It is our intention to bring the crisis to
the forefront of community concern and
discussion where it belongs.

AIDS is a terrifying social problem,
but we must not allow the fear to paralyze
us from action. It is all too clear that the
national and state governments do not
consider the communities ravaged by
AIDS (gay men, people of color, women,
children, and IV drug users) of enough
importance to appropriately fund AIDS
education, prevention, and relief. We will
(continued on next page)

 
 

 

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