Newspaper Page Text
Occupation:
Certified Public Account
Age: Recently turned 30
Book last read:
Dave Pallone's
Behind the Mask
(would not recommend)
Favorite pastimes:
Running, swimming,
camping
Status: Single with a capital
"S" and yes, he is looking
Hometown:
Albertsville, Alabama
Distressing thing that was
recently noticed in the
newspaper: The Atlanta
paper no longer carries
Dick Tracy. 'Tve written in
to them and they better not
cancel Mary Worth." ■
SHELTON HAYNIE:
Front Runner
Somewhere between Casanova Street
and the Atlanta Federal Prison, Shelton
Haynie lives in an "in-process"
house—not to be confused with an in-pro
cess outfit, hairdo or relationship, none of
which Haynie has.
An average morning for this certified
public accountant consists of granola and
yogurt for breakfast at his Grant Park
home, a swim at Georgia State University
and reading the newspaper from cover to
cover. And that's before work—in
Buckhead.
There's nothing halfway about his life.
Haynie has a masters degree in accounting
from Georgia State University and says he
enjoys the satisfaction of knowing that he
is recognized at his office for his devotion
and hard work.
Haynie is also devoted to having a full
personal life. Organizing the Atlanta chap
ter of Front Runners is part of that full life;
looking for a significant other is another.
Shelton's beau ideal is an athletic non
smoker, someone who shares his affinity
for outdoor activities like camping.
When Haynie talks about what he likes
in a man he's not being dreamy, he is very
aware of what he does and does not like.
He says that he never eats at fast food
places but isn't a "health freak." either.
Two of his lunchtime favorites are The
Rice Bowl and the Silver Grill because
they meet his requirements of being cheap
and fast.
This past New Year's Eve, Haynie
decided that there was another area of his
life that he wasn't comfortable with and he
went about working on it. He says that he
is very close to his family and so he made
a New Year's resolution to come out to his
parents. That action taken, he continues to
have a good relationship with them. "They
think I'm an activist because I'm involved
in community activities," he adds.
One of the reasons that Haynie wanted
to let his parents know about his sexuality
was because he was to be part of a history
making event that might have, but did not,
make it into the mainstream media: the
1990 Gay Games in Vancouver. He was
part of Atlanta's swimming team.
Shelton is a member of Atlanta Venture
Sports, a gay outdoors group and the co
founder of Front Runners/Atlanta, a
gay/lesbian running club.
There are numerous other Front
Runners groups around the nation
although there is not a national organiza
tion which unites them. The name derives
from the book. The Front Runner by
Patricia Neal Warren a classic gay love
story set and published in the early 70s.
Warren’s book is a favorite of many gay
men, though it has been criticized as melo
dramatic and narrow in its portrayal of
gays. There is no argument that its positive
portrayal of gay characters at a time when
gay men's literature was invariably either
suicidal or criminal or both was a tremen
dous boost for the community.
The Atlanta Front Runners chapter cur
rently draws about 25 people for weekly
runs of up to an hour in Piedmont Park at
6:30 every Wednesday. "That's 6:30
sharp," Haynie says, "we never start late."
There are also Saturday runs at Chatta
hoochee Park. And walkers are welcome.
Not all of the members are "marathon run
ners" adds Haynie.
Because there are varying degrees of
skill among the runners, they run in small
groups. But they try to get everyone
together after the run at the Blue Coyote or
Fellini's for dinner and some socializing.
Even though the group has grown since
its creation, Haynie hopes to reach all
aspects of the gay/lesbian community and
organize the first Atlanta Pride run. He
said that he hopes more lesbians will get
involved to buoy the small but regular
group of women who now run with the
group. "We will continue to be an organi
zation even with the small representation
of women that we have, but in order to
really represent our community, we need
more," he said.
Some runners drive from Gainesville,
Jonesboro or Cobb County for the social
aspect of the run. "They could run any
where," said Haynie. He describes the
weekly run as "a very positive atmosphere.
It's a chance to socialize with other gays
and lesbians while taking care of your
body," he said.
Haynie's serious approach to health, fit
ness and work are only some examples of
how he plans and organizes his life. He
has even bought land in Asheville, North
Carolina for his retirement home. Then
there's his concern with others. Haynie
says that by starting health-conscious
groups like Front Runners he wants to
make a difference in other's lives by
encouraging them to change a sedentary
lifestyle into an active healthy, fulfilling
W 0
Awareness Work is valuable for anyone in self-discovery and is especially beneficial
for those working with abuse issues, pain, death and dying or grief.
It is an approach to psychotherapy which integrates mind-body knowledge,
including breath-work, body-work, imagery, and mindfulness meditation.
Linda L. Davis, MSW, LCSW
633-6236
Most insurance accepted
2801 Buford Highway
Suite 435
Atlanta, Georgia
one.
-Matt Montgomery
—
If you've been grounded by alcohol or other
drugs, Pride Institute can help you ...
Transportation arranged, airfare may be provided
Treatment services covered by most insurance companies
Confidential insurance verification available
Information, assessment, & admission 24 hours a day
Confidentiality assured
Pride Institute is the only inpatient chemical dependency treatment
center exclusively for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.
Accredited by JCAHO.
Designated one of the 100 best treatment centers in the United States.
(100 Best Treatment Centers, Avon Books, 1988.)
V PRIOR
i;\sTnin:
1-800-547-7433
Southern Voice/ November 8, 1990
15