Newspaper Page Text
FEATURE
Women and AIDS
Cont'd from page 6
who are HIV+ may not find out until they
are already symptomatic. Kathryn fears
that the few women she and others are
seeing with AIDS are only the tip of the
iceberg.
She is also troubled by the way soci
ety's impressions categorize groups who
might provide support for the HIV infect
ed. Women and children with AIDS are
perceived as "more tragic" because they
are the "innocent victims.” The view that
one group of infected individuals is some
how more innocent than another creates
distance between those that could be sup
porting each other. "No one tries to inten
tionally get a life-threatening disease!"
Most of the AIDS-related organiza
tions are involved in providing care, treat
ment and support for persons with AIDS.
Amy Thompson, Director of the AIDS
Research Consortium of Atlanta is work
ing more directly towards finding cures
for opportunistic infections and eventual
ly for the epidemic itself. Under Amy's
direction, ARCA has made a concerted
effort this year to involve more women
and people of color in its drug and treat
ment trials. She is in the enviable posi
tion of being able to see her work translat
ed into potential health improvement.
Amy has a strong background in sci
ence. Before she came to Atlanta to be
Director of ARCA, she worked for a
biotechnical company developing drugs
for the treatment of AIDS. She finds the
science involved in the treatment of this
disease fascinating and is challenged by
the continued search for a cure.
Politically, Amy sees the AIDS epidemic
as a human rights issue rather than a gay
or minority issue.
Angie Morales is the receptionist at
AID Atlanta. Her cheerful, positive out
look offers clients a bridge between the
harsh facts surrounding AIDS and the
faith they must have onto to survive.
Angie is a transsexual who has been liv
ing as a woman for 12 years. Many of the
agency's clients know her as performer
Apple Love and that makes them feel
more comfortable when they walk
through AID Atlanta’s doors. Her biggest
rewards come when clients tell Director
Sandy Thurman or their caseworker that
Angie made their initial experience with
AID Atlanta a pleasant one.
The greatest difficulty in her job is
when frustration overcomes clients and
they become unmanageable. But Angie
has shown herself capable in handling
these situations. She was dubbed an hon
orary case manager for her cool head in
calming a potentially violent client. She
says she rarely feels afraid for herself;
fear is an emotion she reserves for the
people who pass her desk every day.
"Someone has to mother these people,
their own mothers are turning them
away."
HIV+ Women
Talking to women infected with HIV
reveals new kinds of closets. "Lindsey”
(not her real name) is a black, heterosexu
al woman who was diagnosed as HIV+ in
1987. She might have gotten it from a
man she was seeing, an ex-IV drug user
and a drug counselor who was sleeping
with one of his clients. Or maybe from
her ex-husband, also an IV drug user. She
is a nurse who was fired from Emory two
weeks short of her first year of employ
ment there.
Blue Cioss/Blue Shield got a copy of
her medical records stating she was
HIV+; her insurance was canceled.
Because she has no insurance and an
abundance of medical bills, Lindsey has
been forced to file for bankruptcy. Her
doctor is understanding, but she is afraid
to apply for health insurance at her new
job, since insurance company computers
might reveal her HIV status and she
might be fired again.
Lindsey used to be open about her
HIV status, even speaking to groups
about AIDS. She has been encouraged to
quit working and apply for disability, but
she wants to work as long as she can. She
is not willing to risk another job.
Lindsey has a boyfriend who is loving
and understanding (and knows her status)
and a son who needs her help, but she is
Evett Bennett
Angie Morales
receptionist at AID Atlanta
afraid to make plans. Her mother is
already planning her funeral.
Lindsey says each day is precious. She
enjoys the trees. Even the air is beautiful.
Debbie Dillon has been open about
her HIV status from the beginning. She
wrote an article about living with AIDS
for an early issue of Southern Voice. That
article makes it clear that Debbie is a het
erosexual woman who might have gotten
AIDS from a bisexual man she was see
ing for a while. She prefers not to dwell
on the possible source.
One of the subjects of a video on
AIDS, "Mending Hearts," and a book,
"Epitaphs for the Living," Debbie is the
only PWA from the video still living. She
encourages people to ask questions and
feels it is her responsibility to educate
those who do ask. "Until people see it in
their back yard, they're not going to do
anything."
She is also afraid of losing her job, so
she isn't sure how much longer she will
continue to be so open about her illness.
"But I haven’t lost a pound," she quips
good-naturedly.
Some of the first people she had to
educate were her family members.
Debbie remembers an occasion when her
gay brother was changing the sheets on
his bed at their mother's house. Her other
brothers jokingly refused to help because
they "might get AIDS."
She also had a husband for a while,
one she met after her diagnosis and who
knew her status. They were together a
year and a half before they got married.
Then, five months after they were mar
ried, he left.
Debbie has chosen to continue to have
a sex life after she found out she had
AIDS. She tells the men she sleeps with
that she has AIDS. "You'd be surprised at
the men I've told I had AIDS and offered
a condom to, who chose not to use it."
"Some of my strongest support has
been from my gay friends," Debbie says
adding that she admires the gay and les
bian community's ability to pull together
on this issue. She remembers when
NAPWA was searching for a Christmas
party location and Deana’s was the only
place that welcomed them. She was
impressed.
But despite her sense of humor,
Debbie is still plagued by nagging fears.
"My brother's wife is young. When they
have a baby, will she let me hold it?" And
who will take care of her pets when she is
no longer able? "I think I worry most
about that dog."
Give
Something
With An
Edge.
The best gifts are one of a kind.
Individual. For that one of a kind
individual. You’ll find great
selections at The Great Frame Up.
• Do-It-Yourself
or Custom Framing
• Large collection
of posters and prims
• Gift certificates
Our selection is great. Our prices
are low. And our gift ideas are off
the wall. So come on in soon for
personal gifts with an edge.
t Uto0FQ6fiflpQii]0%
Gift Center
Buckhead
3085 Peachtree Rd.
(comer of E. Paces Ferry)
231-9754
OPEN 7 DAYS & 5 NIGHTS,
(present this ad for $10.00 off any
purchase of $50.00 or more.)
Not valid with any other offer.
• Fresh Produce • Groceries
• Breads • Pastries
• Natural Foods • Beer
• Wine and MORE
Picnic • Party Supplies
HOT & HEARTY
SOUPS
(Take-out Only)
1248 Virginia Ave. N.E. Open Daily 10-9
Off Briarcliff Rd. „ SUNDAYS 10-6
872-8991 Call Ahead for Faster Service
fmv.v.',v.v.-.v.wAw
Buy one entree!Get one free
per table up to $8.00
Lunch bujfetJAll you can eat
$5.95 — bring ad for $10% off
Lunch 11:30-2:30 M-Sat
Dinner 5:30-10:30 M-Sun
Bio Shopping Center
595 Piedmont at North Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
(404)876-4408
Goodies to warm your
heart & soul
mama s
Italian cuisine
intimate atmosphere,
candle lit dining
Delivery in the
Grant Park Area
451 Cherokee Avenue
in Grant Park
523-2420
Hours: Tues-Thurs 5 pm - 10 pm,
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Personal Checks Accepted.
No Credit Cards Accepted.
Reservations suggested
for parties of six or more.
Great Food
Great Music
The
Southernaire
Restaurant
410 B CHURCH ST. DECATUR
Live Music
T-F 6:30-8:30
Lunch 11:30-2:30M-F
Dinner 5:30-8:30 T-F 373-1070
THE FINEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
IN THE DOWNTOWN, MIDTOWN AREA!
Twenty-five Lunch Special Items Priced
from $3.75 to $6.25 • 7 DAYS A WEEK
618 Ponce de Leon Ave. • 872-2918
(Across from the old Sears Building)
HU N Aft PALACE CPU PON
! 20% OFF ENTIRE CHECK j
DINE IN OR TAKE OUT
expires 12/2/90
Southern Voice/November 22, 1990 \\