On this months lavender cover of Modern Maturity, the magazine published by the American Association of Retired People, the headlines read, "The New Compassion". This new compassion, as they have labeled it, describes how either by accident or intent, many Americans are finding themselves playing a new role in society, that of caregiver. Families, neighbors, friends, clubs, everyone is pitching in. AND guess who is being studied to gain a better understanding of this new compassion? The gay community!
"The ways that people in the gay community take care of one another is a caregiving phenomenon that is coming under more study in gerontological circles even though its hard to track. Scholars dont know how to document this because there is no way to know the social relationship of unrelated people however, members of these nontraditional families choose to look to their own communities for support. This is especially seen in response to the AIDS crisis."
Our community has the opportunity to express the ways that we can take care of one another through involvement in a new program provided by the Kent Sussex AIDS Programs. KSAPs GAY PLAY program is funded by a grant from the Division of Public Health. This programs goal is to develop a program that addresses the health needs of members in the gay communities. Through small "Kitchen Bizarres" and other activities, we are inviting you to join us as we explore ways to promote and support the well being of our communities. Because we want this program to present the actual health needs and behavior activities practiced in our communities, your involvement is important.
Let us branch out in our roles as caregivers to include those who are not HIV+ but who may be at risk because they dont know how to GAY PLAY. Lets show our colors by creating a new phenomenon where we embrace our communities health and well being through honest, supportive dialog affirming our pride and commitment to our health and the health of each other. For more information, call Steve, Nancy or Penny at 856-2388.
YOU DONT HAVE TO READ MODERN MATURITY TO PARTICIPATE!
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5/16/97 Issue. Copyright 1997 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved.