Q-NOTES
W
December 1988
I PRIDE IN PRINT I
Switchboard, Charlotte 704/525-6128
AIDS Hotline, Charlotte 704/333-AIDS
PFLAG Hotline, Charlotte 704/364-1474
AIDS Hotline, Columbia 803/779-PALS
Call Lin‘- Wilmington 919/675-9222
* t TO ADVERTISE: 339-0679
HIV Testing: Rules Challenged
(Peace on T,artfi
BEST BETS
Dec. 1 World AIDS Day
Dec. 2 Oleens MAP Ben^t
Dec. 3 Mature Gay Men
Call882-1747
Dec. 4 New Life MCC
Bob Darst -guest preacher
Dec. 8 PFLAG - Gary Gloster
Dec. 10 Tradesmen Raffle -
Brass Rail
Dec. 13 GALA-UNCC Student Gp.
CLOSER -Asheville
Dec. 14 MCC Charlotte -
"Homosexuality and the
Scriptures " series starts
Dec. 19 Bowling - Coliseum
Lanes
Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Serivces
New Life MCC &
MCC Charlotte (Potluck)
Dec. 25 Christmas
Dec. 31 New Years Eve
MCC Charlotte Watch-
night Service & Potluck
INDEX
Business Cards
Page 7
Calendar
Page 2
Encounter International
Page 3
Horoscope
Page 4
Organizations
Page 2
Social Highlights
Page 5
The Soft Spot
Page 4
To Your Health
Page 5
By Robert Sheets
Special to Q-Notes
In the week of November 20-27 there
were stories that ran in the Charlotte Ob
server that could have some chilling effects
upon our community; members of the Meck
lenburg county commission have suggested
eliminating the anonymous AIDS test. They
are worried that 37 out of 138 people who
have tested positive to the HIV virus have not
returned for their test results. It is possible
that they will be recommending that the state
legislature change the laws protecting the
anonymous testing in January.
From the figures and estimates given out
by the Centers For Disease Control in At
lanta there are estimated to be 5,000 indi
viduals who would be test-positive in Meck-
1 lenburg County alone. That type of figure is
enough to alarm most anyone but to know
that only 138 who have tested positive have
been tested says something about all that is
going on. We have had a very stubborn
Health Director and a bad testing policy in
the past but that has changed in the last few
months.
When the first tests were given nationally
to detect the HIV virus, gays were warned to
stay away until our privacy could be assured
and a better test could be developed (there
were many false positives given out back
then). Today, though, the tests have been
improved and there are very few wrong re
sults given ouc ... ..
We have been harder hit within our com-
WRFX Call-In
Show Successful
By Rod Thornton
Q-Notes Staff
In our last issue we informed you of an
incident that had occurred on WRFX ("The
Fox"), 99.7 FM on September 26th. During a
radio call-in show that morning, DJ "John-
Boy" referred to the American Civil Liber
ties Union (ACLU) as a "faggot organiza
tion" that is promoting "gay rights." After a
complaint was filed with WRFX and the
Federal Communications Commission, a
request for equal time was granted to repre
sentatives of Charlotte's gay community and
the ACLU to appear on another call-in show
on Nov. 4.
Along with DJ's "John-Boy" and "Billy"
were Charles Johnson of the ACLU (North
Carolina chapter), Don King of First Tues
day, and myself. We came to bring about a
better understanding of what the Charlotte
gay community is about, as well as explain
the role of the ACLU.
The broadcast went very well, although
there were some harsh moments when John-
Boy tried to steer the conversation to that of
the "Safe Sex" cards that First Tuesday had
issued. Don King skillfully explained in a
positive manner exactly why the cards had
been distributed — in order to prevent the
spread of AIDS. King successfully brought
the focus of the show back to why the words
"fag" and "faggot" should not be used in a
public broadcast. King stated that such lan
guage can "promote violence," as it is used to
"dehumanize" gay people.
Charles Johnson illustrated the purpose of
the ACLU - that of defending all Americans'
rights under the Bill of Rights. Johnson
noted that the ACLU does fight for gay
rights, but, if necessary, would fight for John-
Boy and Billy's freedom of speech.
During the call-in show we were able to
answer five calls. It is interesting to note that
two were obviously homophobic. One caller
was neutral, and the last two seemed very
positive and supportive of gay people's rights.
munity by AIDS than any other segment of
the population. We have also been involved
in helping to establish almost every AIDS
service organization in the country. We also
know what the revealing of the HIV test
results can do to individual lives when it
comes to jobs and housing.
We must be concerned that there might be
many individuals who test positive who need
to know. There is much that can be done to
insure that HIV test positives can live a long
and productive life, if they find out in time. If
one has had sex with more than one individ
ual over the last few years they owe it to
themselves to go and have the HIV test
performed. This is not an easy decision. It is
sometimes a very agonizing decision. But it
is one that many of us need to confront in the
next few months.
Having the HIV test could radically change
your view of life. There is a peace of mind
that one can get after getting the results back.
If you should be test-positive, there is much
that you can do to help yourself and insure
that you live a longer, healthier life. Not
knowing, but wondering, is a major, and
constant, source of stress.
If you have ever thought about having the
test done, DO IT NOW. In a few months it
might not be anonymous anymore. After
you've had the test, think about getting in
volved in one of the many social, political, fi
nancial activities being done to help people
with AIDS, AIDS-Related Complex and/or
test-positive.
If you should test positive, contact MAP.
The support group for HIV-positive p6ople
meets each Thursday at 7:30 pm.
New Fashion Nets High Dollars
Abenefit performance on Nov. 4 by a few
of Charlotte's best-looking men raised
$1092.00 for Metrolina AIDS Project and
Q-Notes. The enthusiastic Scorpio crowd
got a pretty fair show and demonstrated their
wonderful generosity.
The half-hour show consisted of eight
male models showing off the latest in under
or outer wear fashions - Safety Shorts, boxer
shorts in high fashion patterns and colors
complete with a condom pocket. With Grand
Frik-as the Emcee there was no stopping the
action.
The models - all volunteers - gave the
audience a glimpse of their posing and
modeling ability as they posed as a group
and then did individual runs for the audience
to show off the beautiful shorts (and, in
many cases, great legs).
The show was punctuated by numbers
from Grand Prix and speeches from a Q-
Notes spokesman, the new AIDS educator at
MAP and a PWA as the gentlemen went into
the audience to show the shorts, hand out
condoms and informational literature.
At the end of the show the audience got a
special treat: an opportunity to bid the shorts
off their favorite model. The auction had
some people jumping and some purse strings
flying.
Although the bidding on the shorts started
at $ 15, one pair went for $50 (real American
paper money!).
A big thank you goes to all who partici
pated - models, patrons, and staff. It was a
great time.
Anyone interested in getting a pair of the
Safety Shorts or in volunteering for Q-Notes
can call Jim at 339-0679.
Bush Presidency: More of the Same?
By Rod Thornton
Q-Notes Staff
With the election of George Bush as U.S.
President, what can gay Americans expect
from his administration? Probably not much.
Bush was originally a moderate in 1980.
when he ran against Ronald Reagan for th.e
Republican nomination. But since accepting
the vice presidential position in 1981 he has
had nearly 8 years of service within a very
conservative administration.
The 1988 Republican party platform made
no mention of gay rights. But a Republican
political advertisement sent throughout North
Carolina during this fall's campaign ridi
culed the Democrat's platform for its pro
gay rights stance.
On the issue of AIDS, Bush has made his
position a little more clear. He has stated that
his administration will increase funding for
AIDS research and seek to ensure confiden
tiality in testing. But keeping these promises
once he is in office may be a different story.
Bush's appointments of Gov. John Sununu
of New Hampshire and Lee Atwater of South
Carolina to prominent positions suggest that
the new administration may be as conserva
tive as the old. Sununu, Atwater, and Dan
Quay le, the Vice-President-elect are all hard
line conservatives. Quayle's supporters are
trying to ensure that he will have a substan
tive role within the Bush administration.
However, due to Quayle's apparent un
popularity, Bush's advisers seem to be trying
to give Quayle as little responsibility as
possible.
On a positive note, the Democrats have
retained control of both the House and Sen
ate. But we should not expect the federal
government to do everything for us. Now is
the time we need to band together on a local
and state level to work to end discrimination
against us. We can't expect to win the fight
nationally unless we fight to win at home
first.