WORLD AIDS DAY December 1st 2007

12/01/07 • 47 min

(This is a repeat of the show I did last year for World AIDS Day. I have nothing to add but more tears.) December 1st is the day to honor the memory of all the people we have lost to AIDS and say a prayer in our hearts for those living HIV & AIDS. The world has lost so many men, women, and children to this horrific disease. This is the 19th World AIDS Day. I remember attending a meeting to organize a remembrance 19 years ago in an apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina. If anyone had told me I would still be attending or helping with World AIDS Day events 19 years later, I would have called them a liar but here I am. I refuse to rant or rave about the stupidity that has caused this disease to continue and worsen for so many years. Today is not the day for that. However, I will share some stories from my life. I have lost over 1,000 people I call friend to this disease. I will not list all the names but they are burned into my heart and soul. I will tell you about a few special people who touched my life, my heart and my soul. The first person I lost to AIDS was David Pendergras. He was one of the most beautiful men I have ever met. I had a huge crush on David that finally became one of the best friendships I ever had. David was the brother my brother could never be to me. We would spend hours talking about everything from our latest boyfriends, clothes, music, movies, books, plays, and even family. It was nothing for us to sit up all night talking, laughing and watching old movies. I still miss his smile and wacked out sense of humor. One time when we were out shopping with my Mom, David screams from across the store "Would you come on Miss Thing. We are ready to go." I was mortified. We were in Raleigh, North Carolina and I had only come out to my mom the previous year. To my surprise, my mom laughed and hugged David. I think he actually helped her understand me and what it meant to be a gay male. Neither David nor I were nelly in anyway but did love to cut up once in awhile. I still talk to David and tell him my dreams, fears, and aspirations and he is still listening and cracking jokes. David, I love you and I miss you. In July of 1999, I lost two incredible people in 10 days time. Keith Mcelhenny had been a friend for 8 years. I had met him and his lover Carl when I was dating a mutual friend and bartending part time at a country western bar in San Francisco. Keith was one of the gentlest souls I have ever known. He was an artist, a writer, a furniture builder and designer. Keith and I would get lost in the bookstores while our respective lovers would fuss and complain. I loved attending plays, movies and concerts with Keith & Carl and talking about them afterwards. For many years, any holiday was spent either at their home or with them at my home. Dinner parties were a common occurrence and I always knew the food would be wonderful and would help with my own contributions. The last two times I ever attended church were for Keith. He was inducted as a deacon to the MCC church he and Carl belonged to and he asked me to attend. Unknown to me, I was asked to participate in the lying on of hands part of the ceremony. I tried to refuse as I am not a practicing church member of any kind and he and the minister said I had a Christian heart and the service would not be complete without me. The next time I attended was for his memorial service. I had promised Keith in the hospital that I would cater his memorial to make sure it was nice and not just thrown together. Keith's memorial was delayed for several days since his Minister and the majority of the congregation of the church was at an MCC World Conference. I was honored to do this for him and still miss him terribly. He will always hold a special place in my heart and mind. The other person I lost that awful July was my Lover Don. What can I say about Don? He was light of my world. Here was the one man that was special enough for me to date, live with and love more than 6 months. He was someone I wanted to grow old with and laugh about our past blunders, but that was not to be. When I met Don, he had been HIV positive for 15 years. That did not mean a thing to me. I was in love from the first night we spoke. I am not saying everything was perfect. No relationship is. We were total opposites in almost everything. He loved bloody action movies and gambling. I am a comedy or chick flick guy. In his entire life, he had never seen a play, a classical concert or even a jazz concert. He laughingly said that the only things we had in common were that we were both gay, loved dogs, and loved each other. He had this sleepy little smile that could melt my heart and make me forget any little dispute. He would plan special occasions for me that would simply blow my mind. He was probably one of the most romantic men I have ever met. It was nothing for him to plan a special night on the town or an incredible dinner at home with flowers and candles all over the h...

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National Coming OUT Day

Coming Out is never an easy thing to do but is vital. Speaking out is even more important to everyone. Speak out for Equal Rights for Everyone and fight to get elected officials who recognize all Americans and their rights elected. I was lucky enough to attend the Seven Straight Nights For Equality Vigil hosted by Atticus Circle and Soulforce in Austin Texas. Anne Wynne, the founder of Atticus Circle spoke about the need for Equality for all families. Anne is a straight mother of 3 who understands that all families are important. She has opened her heart and mind and supports Equality for All. Check back for an interview with Anne in the upcoming weeks. Rainbow Bear Rainbow World

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Politics At Its Worst & Best

Anyone who has been a regular listener knows I was a John Edwards supporter. After John Dropped out of the race, I did a lot of research and soul searching to decide who I would support in the 2008 election. Barack Obama has my full support and endorsement. I believe his message of Hope is something that America and the World are ready for. It is a message we must all get behind and work to achieve it fulfillment. It means lots of hard work ahead for not only our elected officials but for all Americans. I hope you will join me in supporting Barack Obama for President in 2008. In the show I share a letter I wrote to Hillary and a story a fellow Obama supporter sent out to show how Obama's speech on race & politics has affected people. Letter to Hillary Dear Sen., You say you want to be President to be a leader for the American People. Your campaign and rhetoric is showing anything but true leadership. Your negativity and whining to win at any cost are ripping the Democratic Party apart and you seem not to care at all. This is not about another line to add to your resume but about the future of America. In the last month, you have suddenly become the champion of the Florida and Michigan voters when you earlier agreed to abide by party rules when both delegations where denied. You only changed your mind when you realized you were behind in the popular vote and delegate count. Your campaign (which speaks for you) is now threatening to sue the Texas Democratic Party because you lost the caucus part of the Democratic Primary. Sounds like sour grapes or just plain whining to me. Texas is proud to have had the largest voter turn out in decades and more people active in the precinct conventions than ever before. You now want to negate all the hard work and effort people made to attend and do their best to be part of the democratic process because you didn’t win. Is this a sign of leadership or just a spoiled brat acting out? Your callous statement that McCain is a more experienced leader in international affairs and would better handling a crisis than Barack Obama showed that you no longer care about America or the American People but just your fight to stay alive in a political campaign you are losing. The negativity of your “3 AM” ad was a tactic taken straight from Karl Rove’s play book on how to defeat Democrats and should have been beneath you but wasn’t. Your hesitation and vague answer when asked did you believe Barack Obama was a Muslim just added fire to a rumor the Republicans have been spreading for months. Instead of asking for Geraldine Ferraro to step down and apologize for her racist comments about Obama’s candidacy, you let it keep playing out in the media. If someone had stated that you were only in your position because you were female, you would have been the first one screaming at the top of your lungs. At one time, I respected the work you had done and was proud of your candidacy and what you were bringing to the picture in American politics and history. I can only say now that I am ashamed of you and your pettiness. The Democratic Party and the Nation would be better served if you dropped out of the race and saved us all from your fight to stay alive in a race you have lost. You seem to have forgotten the big picture. This is about America- not Hillary. Respectfully yours, refinish69 Worried Democrat A Trip to the Gas Station: No it is not a Curious George Story "Yesterday, as Barack was giving his speech I took a break at work so I could watch. I knew then that it was historic... I knew then that he was so much more than a politician... I knew then he was a visionary. My day went on as usual, finishing work... I came home, changed clothes and went to workout. I wore, as I often do one of my five Obama t-shirts. So I finish working out and it was a tough workout. I was exhausted, sweaty, nasty and just wanted to go home, shower and relax. But I had to get gas and I am so glad I did. I pull in and it was windy as could be and start pumping my gas. Then this huge blue truck with a guy in his forties, beard, rough looking actually gets out. I notice he's staring at me and I'm thinking "ok this is it, I'm gonna get my ass beat right here for being a white, gay, Obama supporter from Kentucky." With a deep southern drawl, he say's: "I like him." "Who? I think" "The man's got it... He's smart... He's real... (insert cursing, anti-Hillary remarks here) and he's got my vote." "That great" I say, not only cause he's supporting Barack but because it looks like my life has just been spared!!! Then I asked him if he saw the speech. "Yup, that's why I'm voting for him... if he can change my mind and let me see the error of my ways... he can sure as hell change this country." "Wow" I'm thinking. Then I remember I had an extra Obama, "yes we can" bracelet in my pocket. I reach in, pull it out and toss it to him, telling him what it is and pointing to the one on my wrist. You would have thought I had j...