———— ——1e t t e 1' s---- IIIIM,PIIII 177, Burlington, III 05402-0177 or oitlII@tn||etlIeI'.net 0 Exception Taken with Misogynist Myth In all due respect to Michael Albero's desire for gay liberation which puts us basi- cally on the same side of the fence, I must take issue with his opinion that Wilhelm Iansen, a German scout leader who indulged in sex with his troop of boys was nobly en- gaged in "male bonding" (“T he Original Boy Scouts" 5/ 98 OITM). The phallocentric rationalization that these young victims of child molest- ing really were sexually at- tracted to their leaders, (their "father figures") in some sort of mutual way shows a clear lack of understanding of how power differentials play out in patriarchal forms of sex. Michael seems to buy the principle that these ”active" (i.e. dominant) leaders had ev- ery right to fuck their ”be- loved, hence passive” (i.e. sub- missive) children. This distor- tion is the foundation of male domination, the extension of which led to the rise of the Nazis. You're damn right this band of abusers considered ”it in bad taste to spend time with women.” Those women prob- ably would not have stood around watching their sons get raped all in the name of penis worship. If we're going to stand side by side in the movement, Michael, please educate your- self about sexual politics. It is a misogynist myth that males are victims of "an outpouring of one of the strongest hor- monespulsing through men's veins — the desire to get off" (to quote a letter to the editor in the same OITM issue). This view of masculinity justifies universal access of the almighty phallus so men can stick it to whoever, wherever, whatever. This is far from sexual liberation. Unfortu- nately this widely accepted precept has led to the rape of women, children and the earth. Crow Cohen 9 Riders Respond Fenway Serves Vermonters: As a registered rider in the Boston to New York AIDS Ride 4, I would like to show how this event does have a positive impact on Vermont. The funds I raise benefit the Fenway Community Health Center (FCHC) in Boston. FCHC provides quality health care to the gay and lesbian community of New England, apd is actively involvedin HIV research and preirentibn pro- , , . ._ . g ,._.i ab. st. .4. Ii .~y.»‘¢,,v-1 v £‘v;Lé_., «. ,3: _ . grams. Fenway is committed to providing the best services to New England patients and fel- low agencies. According to Glenn Kaufhold, Director of Development, up to 12 people from Vermont are currently re- ceiving care at Fenway. This year, Fenway implemented the C.A.R.E (Collaborative AIDS Ride Effort) Program as a way to share a percentage of the funds they receive from the AIDS Ride. New England agencies who wish to be con- sidered are asked to draft a proposal for funds. FCHC was our nation's first community—based health clinic to initiate HIV research studies. They continued that tradition last ]uly by enrolling people iII Project ACHIEVE, a five year study to determine the immune system response to experimental HIV vaccines. Fenway is one of fourteen sites nationwide to participate in this study, and the only one in New England. By supporting the Boston to New York AIDS Ride 4, you are doing something about AIDS. You are helping a clinic provide care to people from throughout New England, and ensuring that research will one day bring us the cure. Thank you, Gavin Wallace, Burlington AIDS Not a Local Disease The April 1998 Editorial concerning the Boston New York AIDS ride asking readers not to sponsor anyone and only donate to the terrific local AIDS agencies was disappoint- ing. Since when is AIDS a lo- cal disease? The World Health Organization estimates that there are between 20 and 30 million people with HIV/ AIDS world wide, 70% in de- veloping countries. I totally support VT CARES with the AIDS walks, auctions, dinners and even donated furniture after the fire, but for me, this. fund-raiser is about research dollars. I have 5 friends living with AIDS and I do not think ’ any of the medications they take were developed in Ver- mont. Please let me address some of the concerns in the edi- torial, as one of the 32 local Ver- mont bicycle riders planning on sacrificing a lot of free time training this summer for the ride. ‘ An advertising expense of $3000 does not buy a great deal of advertising. I suspect a large percentage of the 32 rid- ers registered so far, like me, did so due to reading the ad- vertisements. Also, many local people volunteer to help out at ,I?‘/‘',‘ W ‘ the rides, including local bike shop personnel. I would say the ads were well worth the money, and have more than paid for themselves already. The old adage it takes money to make money, comes to rrIind. The editorial stated $60,000 left Vermont. First of all, did this the money came from Vermont? All my fund raising so far has been out of state. Secondly, the average annual cost of meeting a clients needs at the Fenway Commu- nity Health Center is approxi- mately $30,000. I would sus- pect out of 750 New England clients that there are more than two Vermonters taking advan- tage of their services. Thirdly, and most importantly, VT CARES and Brattleboro Area AIDS Project can apply for grants this year from a fund being set up based on a per- centage of the ride profit. In otherwords this year some money will be available for Vermonters. Yes, Bob Pallotta and his for—profit fund raising com- pany make a lot of money. But they also raise a lot of money. The company also does fund- raisers for the Breast Cancer Walks and the American Lung Association. The bike rides have delivered more money, more quickly back to AIDS charities than any other AIDS fund—raisers in history. Since 1994 twenty—two rides have raised approximately 70 mil- lion. Costs are different for each area ride. Administrative costs and public awareness can cost around 25% and taking care of the 3000 riders and about 1200 volunteer workers, can cost around 18%. The bottom line is the important figure and approxi- mately 40 million has gone to agencies for their client ser- vices and research. A Winooski friend of mine, working the ride in Washington DC, said Dan Palotta told her if the re- search funded by the rides de- velops a vaccine or cure he would gladly move onto some- thing else. The Fenway Community A Health Centers research facil- ity, built by rider dollars, is one of eight test sites chosen na- tionwide by the Center for Dis— I ease Control to administer and test the experimental AIDS vaccine. This is just one type of research the 32 Vermont riders and local volunteers are striv- ing to help fund in order to eliminate AIDS in Vermont, the United States, and the around the world. AIDS is not a local disease. Please support the rid- ers and local volunteers. David Wales Rider # 965B OUT IN THE, MOUNTAINS -— JUNE 1998 — 3 financial services Elizabeth Campbell A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT ‘I5 E. Washington St.Rutland, VT 05701 (802) 773-4030 Elizabet@sover.net Serving tbe Venuout 6'omrIu‘m:'ty egal services BETH ROBINSON LAN GROCK SPERRY & WOOL ATTORNEYS AT LAW 15 SOUTH PLEASANT STREET MIDDLEBURY. VERMONT 05753 Burlington Office: 275 College Street Burlington, Vermont 05402 802-864-0217 Area Code: 802 Telephone: 388-6356 FAXII: 388-6149 BLACKWOOD AND KRAYNAK P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW Eileen M. Blackwood Pamela Kraynak l3l Main Street PO. Box 875 Burlington, VT 05402 (802) 863-25l 7 ° Employment law - Education law - Wills, Relationship Contracts - Commercial & Residential Real Estate - Small Business SUSAN NI . MURRAY LANGROCK SPERRY & WOOL ATTORNEYS AT LAW 15 soum PLEASANT STREET MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT 05753 . BURLINGTON OFFICE: 275 COLLEGE STREEY BURLINGTON, VERMONT 05402 802-864-O2 I 7 AREA COOE: B02 TELEPHONE: 386-6356 HOME PHONE: 877-3l65 FAX O: 338-6149 Interest Rates Are At A 20Year Low ‘ ' Now Is A Good Time To BuyA House I ’'l‘“ . Blackwood and Kraynak,P.(1 5’ Attorneys At Law , *Ouer ten years of experience in real estate law *Competr've rates to buyers and sellers of real estate in _ NW Vermont _ *Most rmportan , we know the special issues same sex 5 face when buylnga home CON'l‘ACTlBFORMORElNFORMA'l‘l0N 'M¢Ph°'|€= 865-2517 Memberofthekainbmv Email: VTI4flWlJk@0l.C0l’n Buflnggg A 1 Editor Responds to AIDSRiders: jjfijj jjjjjjjjjjjjjj The argument that Vermonters should support AlDSride because the money goes to research is typical of the misleading infomtation put out by the recruit- ers for the event. According to the Fenway Community Health Center, $70,000 dollars goes from the ride to the research department, which may seem like a lot. but put it this way, it a rider raises the $1500 required to take part in this event, about $25 of it goes towards research at the Fenway, while around $400 goes to PR‘ and advertising and Dan Palotta's $ 250,000 a year salary What AlDSride calls “public awareness” is nothing more than advertising and PR, _ another example of “good PR” or misleading information. . It you want to support AIDS research all you need to do is pay your taxes, the vast majority of AIDS research is paid for b_y‘.gr_arIt_s.‘J4f y(_)l‘l.j_IlI_anl to‘ Raise moneygtor a large PR firm in Oalifornia that’s fine too, but don't pretend, that AlDSride issanything more than§he'WalMart of AIDS benefits. g- EBfl ‘