Newspaper Page Text
Page 6 THE NEWS June 20,1985
EYE ON AIDS
Play-safe Survey
Conducted in Atlanta
In its continuing fight against AIDS, the service organization AID Atlanta plans a stirv-
cey of gays and lesbians of the area to collect data to eventually be published. Survey
questions will be printed on heavy-paper fbrms in various colors to be found soon in
bars, in mailings, at meetings of organizations and at various AID Atlanta seminars,
meetings and other gatherings. The card, containing questions on sex. age. residence
(suburb or city), race/income and orientation as well as personal awareness and prac
tices, is headed "Play Safe Survey." No names or addresses are required, and the respon
dent and the entire questionaire will be anonymous. • '
AID Atlanta plans to distribute the first 5,000 questionaires soon, to be followed in
October by another 5,000 and in February 1986 with a final 5,000. The results of the
survey will be published. -
Members of the gay community are requested to watch for the survey cards and to
answer the questions truthfully and accurately. Completed cards can either be mail
ed to AID Atlanta or handed in to a collector at organizational meetings or at any other
place the card was obtained.
The survey is one -facet of AID Atlanta's Campaign '85, a safe-sex program underway
by that organization.
AIDS Case Cured?
The March/April issue of "New Realities” magazine features an article by Jean Shinoba
Bolen, M.D. headed "Exclusive Report: First Complete AIDS Recovery.” Dr. Bolen's ar
ticle chronicles the case of William Calderon who was diagnosed with AIDS and Kaposi's
sarcoma in Deceamber 1982 and was given less than 6 months to live. The article
quotes Calderon as saying. "My recovery began when I believed that I didn't have to die,
when 1 knew 1 could heal myself." Calderon used the methods developed by Texas physi
cian 0. Carl Simonton, M.D.. in working with cancer and other terminal illness patients
as the basis for his self-help therapy. He also was on Interferon therapyfor six months,
but says he feels the drug was not the reason for his improved condition. Dr. Bolen
ascribes Calderon's recovery to a "vigorous treatment program combining optimal
nutrition, physical fitness, psychotherapy and creative visualization.” Calderon includes
all of these and adds, "You can't get well unless you forgive everyone. You don't have
to love them, but actively put in a good thought for them.” A lab report on Calderon's
blood shows most counts within "expected” ranges. His "T” cell ratio remains depress
ed but Dr. Bolen says that is due to his immune system beingpiobilized against viruses
along with a slightly decreased helper cell count. Both Dr. Bolen and Dr. Edward
Winger, who did the blood work, feel that Calderon's ability to fight off a recent attack
of pneumonia with conventional therapy and his blqpd test results incidate that. "He s
doing superbly.”
ATLAN1A GfflT CENTER
SIB CLINIC
Monday & Wednesday Screening Free
6 p.m.-9 p.m. Treatment: $10
6312th Street • Atlanta, Georgia 30309 • (404) 876-5372
GAY FATHERS COALITION,
INTERNATIONAL
Meeting
8:3 0- 10PM Sundays Rm 113
Unitarian Universalist’s Church
info call gay helpline 892-0661
Sign Language Class
Jul^f I - August 19,7:30 p m. - 9:30 p.m,
Atlanta Gay Center • 6212th Street
$31 Session
For more information eall (404) 876-5372
sponsored by the atlanta gay center
AIDS Care Home
to be a Reality
Town & Country Realty presented the keys for the new AIDS hospice to members Of
the Home Fund Committee of AID Atlanta on June 1 at Illusions. To date, more than
$43,000 has been raised for the home.
At the ceremony, AID Atlanta thanked Frankie and D. B. Levert and Brian Dinerman
of T&C Realty for being very instrumental in finding an appropriate property. Members
of the AID Atlanta Board were recognized. Thanks were also given to Charlie Brown
for all his efforts in raising a considerable amount of money through benefit shows all
over the Southeast, Ted Binkley and the Royal Court Were thanked for their efforts in
coordinating fund raisers at Illusion and other gay clubs around Atlanta, “They are the-
ones that got the ball rolling in fund raising—bringing in $25,000 from all the bars and
organizations." said Ken South, Director of AID Atlanta. Also recognized as very sup
portive was the Atlanta Business and Professional Guild. Names of all those who con
tributed were passed out at the ceremony.
Two units at the home will be named with plaques on their doors. The Layton
Gregory and Glenn McGahee name plates were presented to Glenn McGahee. Glenn has
AIDS and is the Administrative Assistant of Aid Atlanta.
The home was bought by one person and will be leased to AID Atlanta. This works
out very well, according to South. "We really-didn't want to deal with banks or multim-
pie investors, if possible. This simplifies things for us." The $43,000 will be used to pay
the rent and maintain the building. AID Atlanta will be bearing most of the expense
for its tenants. An apartment may rent for $400 per month and the tenant able to pay
only.$65-$85. This is where AID Atlanta will Come in and pay the difference.
Although it is the sixth such home in the country (still a small number). South is ex
cited about its specialness. “Most of these other homes are fraternity-type homes—a
regular house with several bedrooms and a kitchen. We'feei that people with AIDS are
suffering enough and going through enough changes without telling them that they
can't bring along their personal belongings, like a couch. And in many of these other
homes, people couldn't bring their furniture because there wasn't room. In our home
which is a quadruplex, with eight bedrooms, people will have the privacy of their own
places and the companionship of another individual." Each apartment will be shared
by two people. South and members of AID Atlanta are very pleased-with the home
because of its present condition. The building has been completely renovated with
new kitchens and baths, central heat and air, redone hardwood floors and solariums.
"It is really a very nice place," stated South. The first apartment will be occupied this
month.
AID Atlanta announced the beginning of their Care-Shares program. Care shares are
make-believe stock in the hospice. They are available for ten dollars a share. Certificates
of ownership are given with the purchase of shares, just like real shares of stock. Of
course, these are not real stock certificates and purchasers realty don°t own a piece of
the home. However, this will give organizations—and individuals—something to
display proudly, if they wish.
The hospice is taking donations of furniture. Donors must come by the office of AID
Atlanta and sign a release form and obtain the key to their storage warehouse where
the donor is to take the furniture themselves No pickups by AID Atlanta. Other
household.goods and articles are acceptable. BUT NO CLOTHING.
Gus Galvos