Out in the Mountains

Czar

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distance factor that complicates and we
haven’t done well answering those
questions as a lot of the focus has been on
the epicenters of the disease where there are
large numbers. We are looking at it more

' and deciding where we go with it. A major

part of my job is to help every American
understand that this disease goes
everywhere.

OITM: How often have you met with
President Clinton regarding AIDS?

Gebbie: I have no idea. He gets a weekly
report from me of what I've been doing,
who I'm seeing, and what's going on. He
gets regular requests from me — like this
week it was to call a young man who was
dying of HIV who had a particular need to
hear from him. Every time I see him I plug
something in there.

W

JOSIE JUHASZ, M.A.

Licensed Psychologist - Master
and
LYNN GOYETTE, M.S., M.A.

Licensed Clinical
Mental Health Counselor

announce their affiliation as the

COUNSELING CENTER or NORTHERN VERMONT

with offices in
Burlington

86046360

Montpelier
229-5220

insurance accepted

TELEPHONE (302) 524-9595

CAROL L. THAYER, M.D.
FAMILY PRACTICE

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BY APPOINTMENT

04/94

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FAIRFAX, VERMONT 05454

OI'TM: What progress has the
Administration made in implementing the
recommendations of the National
Commission on AIDS?

Gebbie: Several parts of it are moving right
along. Part of it is increased funding and a
better organized approach to research,
services and treatment. The leadership
issue, which is something they focussed on,
is evolving with my position and now
shortly an action agenda for the nation
which we will be publishing and the
appointment of a new ongoing leadership
advisory board.

OITM: In light of no increase in federal
funding for AIDS prevention do you think
the federal government is doing enough?

Gebbie: With any disease there is some
measure of nothing is never enough.
Having been in health and illness care for a
long time, I've never been in a situation
where I couldn't think of a way to spend
five more dollars. I wish there were more.
There is new money for prevention but it is
in the substance abuse side in l995. We
were so far behind there, and substance
abuse treatment is AIDS prevention, so we
put the money there.

OITM: How do you respond to criticism
regarding the inclusion of Medicare,
Medicaid and Social Security dollars in
press statements regarding - the
Administration's financial commitment to
AIDS/HIV?

Gebbie: We happen to have done it for
HIV, and in fact those entitlements are an
important part Without Medicare,
Medicaid, Social Security people with HIV
in this country would really be in a heap of
trouble. What I've tried to do is separate the
numbers and be real clear and honest that
those aren't AIDS specific appropriations
but they are helping people with AIDS at
this level.

OITM: How would you characterize
the contributions of Randy Shilts
(author of And The Band Played On) to
AIDS awareness?

Gebbie: As very helpful and important.
His documentation of that early experience
of the epidemic in the gay community and
the early anger at the government is an
important background piece. It continues
to be an important social document about
the disease.

OITM: What are your thoughts about
groups like ACT-UP and AIDS activist

Larry Kramer?

Gebbie: They're great. Some days they
make me grumpy, angry, irritated. Those
groups have been critical in keeping this
issue on the national agenda even when
other people wanted to ignore it. People
concerned about other conditions have
learned from them; just yelling at people

I‘ isn't enough, you have to be prepared to

negotiate, teach, and develop.

OITM: How do you respond to the
criticism leveled at AIDS researchers and
the federal government regarding the lack
of research regarding lesbians and AIDS?

Gebbie: They're right. Early identification
that women who exclusively have sex with
other women, in the sexual activity area,
were at the lowest risk let us have some
blind spots about the spread of the disease
without acknowledging that some women
who self—identify as lesbian may do drugs
or have sex with men sometimes. This
lack of information and visibility has put
them at greater risk. I've met with some
lesbian health groups and we're trying to
correct for that.

OITM: How do you respond to critics who
indicate that the problem in the fight against
AIDS is not coordination of efforts but the
lack of research funds and effective

Stephanie Buck, M.A.

individuals - couples - groups

Elm Street Feminist Counseling

155 Elm Street - Montpelier, VT 05602 - 802 223-7173