LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Speak Out |
Bill Sieverts insightful article on "Doctor" Laura in the last issue of LETTERS is a wake-up call to all of us who are complacent enough to think that the gay rights movement is finally over, with victory secured. One only has to listen to the current gay basher de jour, "Doctor" Laura on daily syndicated radio. Her brand of gay bashing is more insidious than the boardwalk bashers, or the monsters that murdered Matthew Shepherd. It is more insidious because this woman cloaks her pronouncements under the guise of scholastic respectability. After all, she is "Doctor" Laura, so she must be right! Unfortunately, she will remain on radio, and unfortunately is scheduled to pollute the television air waves as well. Ignorance mixed with hate is a heady recipe that means big bucks for the radio and television industry.
Well, theyll not get my bucks. Henceforth "Doctor" Laura will be known to me as Doctor Mengelaura and I hope you will refer to her in the same way. David Ruffo, Just Looking Weve decided to participate in a very special and powerful event to help fight the battle against AIDS. Next month, well take four days out of our lives to ride our bicycles 330 miles from Raleigh, North Carolina to Washington, D.C. with over 2,300 other people in Washington D.C. AIDS Ride 4. Were riding to raise money for Food & Friends and Whitman-Walker Clinic. Together we hope to raise more that $4 million for people living with HIV and AIDS, and important AIDS prevention programs in the Washington area. Our team, DE Coasters, has agreed to raise a total of $9500 in pledges between now and the pledge deadline on June 7th. We need your help. We hope you will join us, Sunday, May 23, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at 56 Rolling Road where a representative from Washington D.C. AIDS Ride 4 will tell you more about this amazing event and the wonderful work being done by Food & Friends and Whitman-Walker Clinic. We hope that youll be able to join us on May 23rd and that we may count on your support. Please keep in mind how far well be riding, the commitment weve made and the time and effort were giving to training. AIDS has affected nearly all of us, having taken more than 360,000 people in this country. In addition, it is estimated that over 1,000,000 Americans are infected with HIV right now. Those who have died in the last seventeen years from AIDS amount to six times the deaths in the Vietnam War. With your support we hope to help avert more deaths and to help those who are ill and in need of care and intervention. Thank you in advance for your support. Well see you on May 23. If you cannot attend, please contact one of us at 302-227-5000 to make your pledge. Jack OHallaren, Rick Powell, Rich Quill, Debra Waters and Kas Naylor Thank you Rehoboth. Recently our homes were totaled by a fire. Worst of all our treasured life possessions are gone. C.R. had just become a full time resident, and I, (Sammy) have lived here eight years. The fire was still aglow when neighbors and friends began offering living assistance and emotional support. Almost daily we have been given personal items by locals and have heard that others have items they are holding for us until we have new homes. We have to mention the support and kindness of the Renegade. During their Twentieth Anniversary celebration, they incorporated two benefit numbers into their Sunday night Impersonators show. Plants from R.L. Greenhouses were sold and tips from performers in the show were donated to assist us. We wish we could thank everyone by name but in doing so we are afraid of leaving people out. We will say that the new soft pillow, warm blanket and popcorn set were more than a kind thought. It seems that "Sorry to hear about..." is not just a statement. It means a lot, and every little bit does help. You can reach either of us at 227-4282. C.R. McHugh and Sammy Trail I dont know if Letters from Camp Rehoboth has an advice column or if you are inclined to respond to my request directly, but I was hoping for some assistance. I recently took a half-share in a group beach house for this summer. I had been a member of a house in Fenwick Island for a long time and, in the past, came up to Rehoboth about 3 or 4 times a summer. Coming to Rehoboth was synonymous with going out to a nice dinner, hitting one of the happy hours, and/or going dancing at the Renegade and other such things. But my principle interest in coming to the shore has always been to hang out at the beach and generally relax. However, Rehoboth, and the group of guys Ill be living with this summer, is comparatively bustling. The space in my group house is quite tight, so even hanging out at home is less restful than Im accustomed to. Are there laid-back places to be found in town? Places to hang out that are not ultra-cruisy? Id appreciate any advice. Don Dickson CAMPnote: Got any advice for Don? Tell us your favorite spots for hanging out, and well pass it along to Don. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 5, May 21, 1999 |