Living in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina can make one feel very removed from the fight against Aids. I have only know three people who have died of Aids in the 31 years that I have been around. I guess that I should count myself lucky for that. Gene is the person that I miss the most. He ran our local video store (with his partner Steve) for many years. You could tell that Gene was getting sick right before he and Steve moved away. Gene moved back here he and Steve split up several years later. I saw him a few times around town over the next couple of years. He seemed to be doing fine. The next year I heard that he had moved to Ohio and had died there. Gene holds a special place in my heart. He was very much like me … a little too arty for his own good. He and Steve were also the first gay couple that I had ever gotten to know really well. I am so glad that I got to be his friend for the time he was here.
It still surprises me the “it won’t happen to me” attitude that is still around even after all the years of health care professionals advocating safe sex. The couple of time that I have actually been with someone the last few years I have had to be the one to bring up the subject. It seems like being “safe” would be the first thing to be discussed. We need constant education of the masses (gay and straight).
Western North Carolina Aids Project
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids