Newspaper Page Text
Page 6 THE NEWS, Dec. 6, 1984
HELP LINE TRAINS
Seven newly trained
volunteers have brought
the number of people who
work on the Atlanta Gay
Helpline to more than 50,
according to Michael
Wilson, Helpline Coordi
nator .
The seven, whose names
are not released in accor
dance with the Helpline's
practice of anonymity for
both the callers and the
volunteers they talk with,
have just completed a ten-
week program of Helpline
training. The training in
cludes reflective and
counseling techniques,
orientation to various
aspects of the lesbian and
gay community about which
callers are likely to ask
questions, and a number of
issues of lesbian and gay
life such as health
matters, legal concerns,
OLD from p. 3
Carolyn, too, has pre
pared financially for old
age by wise investments
which has become important
since she lives in a care
home Although, she
didn't have a lot of gay
friends throughout most
of-her life, Carolyn has
become very involved in
WOW.
She finds it very en
couraging that members are
interested in relating to
older people.
Ken, 60, is a reformed
alcoholic and has not been
involved with someone on a
long-term basis.
He says gayness is not
the most important aspect
of his life and doesn't
see many differences in
being an older gay or
Older straight.
Ken says he has doesn't
have a lot of friends
because has learned to
enjoy his own company and
is busy with his business
and other activities. He
adds that if he did need
some assistance he knows
there are friends to help.
He recently made the
last mortgage payment on
his house and says as long
as he can still get around
he will be able to keep
his piano tuning business
and open and will be able
to provide for himself.
Ken worries about the
young kids who all of the
sudden decide _ their gay
and act out what they
think gays should be. "I
don't see any need to
march down the street and
proclaim your gayness,"
Ken says.
and other personal ques
tions.
Atlanta's Gay Helpline,
a service of the Atlanta
Gay Center, has been in
existence for some six
years. Volunteers include
a variety of men and
women—usually but not ne
cessarily gay or lesbian
themselves—representing a
number of backgrounds.
About 6,000 callers
every year phone the Help
line. Subjects of calls
run the gamut for simple
requests for information-
such as bars, businesses,
or organizations in the
community—to crisis
calls. Most fall somewhere
in between the two
extremes —people who want
to "talk through" a
problem or get some
concern off their chests,
but who may be reluctant
Ken says sharing his
life with someone who
would like to learn piano
tuning would allow him to~
leave a legacy would make
him very happy but until
then he'll just keep busy
and enjoy life.
Miriam, 54, was married
and has three children and
four grandchildren.
"At 40, I went from
being totally straight to
being totally homosexual,
with no regrets," Miriam
says.
After living in New
England and being married
for 22 years and being
with a lover for 12 years,
Miriam bought a van and
headed out. She ended her
trip in Atlanta and de
cided to stay.
She has a small pension
from teaching and Some
Social Security from her
husband and. she recently
bought a mobile home.
Her entire family, in-'
eluding her mother and
father, knows she is a
lesbian. Miriam is still
close' to her family and is
glad they will be there if
she needs them.
Miriam says she does
envy those with a lover
and financial stability,
but says she has only been
out fourteen years and is
still growing and devel
oping .
As far as any fears
about getting older,
Miriam has few and adds
"it's fun and you don't
lose your sex drive."
Aaron Taylor
NEW VOLUNTEERS
to have a conversation on
some particular subject
with friends, lovers or
associates.
"One might think that
men would be reluctant to
talk with female volun
teers, or that lesbians
might not be willing to
talk to gay men," says
Bill Gripp, Director of
Piedmont Counseling Ser
vice, which conducts
Helpline training. "Actu
ally, most people are
quite willing to talk with
whatever volunteer takes
their call as soon as they
realize they are talking
with a person who is
caring, empathetic, and
who is not judging them."
"We're not easily shoc
ked, " says a Helpline vo
lunteer. "We've heard just
about everything more than
once. You'd be surprised
how many of the people
who call in are afraid
that nobody has ever been
in the situation they're
in. A lot of the time,
it's a great comfort
simply to know that other
people have had the same
feelings - and difficulties
one may be facing and
feeling alone."
Anyone interested in
calling the Helpline or in
volunteering for the Help
line training which begins
several times a year
should call the. Helpline
at 892-0661. Helpline
hours are from 6pm to 11pm
daily.
Gene Koland
DEADLINES FOR THE NEWS
ISSUE DATE
COPY DUE
AD SPACE RESERV.
DECEMBER 6
NOVEMBER 30
NOVEMBER 26
DECEMBER 20
DECEMBER 14
DECEMBER 10 .
JANUARY 3 ;
DECEMBER 28 |
DECEMBER 24
JANUARY 17
January 11
JANUARY 7
JANUARY .31
JANUARY 25
JANUARY 21
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respectful ly requests' your presence
for an evening of musical fun and entertainment
/ -. ’ ' cit
THE GREAT NIGHT CHRISTMAS POT LUCK .
Please bring a covered dish, ScHad,
vegetable^ or dessert and join us.
at II Iis Hall, AI I Saints Church,
.6 54 .West Poatehlroo Str-qet, at 8:00
on. Thursday, -December 20, 1984..
3 s'-V. p ,
876 - 3109
to /V