Kaposi’s Sarcoma
continued page 4
concerned about, and regularly checked for
syphilis and gonorrhea. However, he did
kindly provide us with the information to draw
up the chart on page 4.
Please keep in mind that these splotches
occur in only half of the gay men seen so far.
SPECULATIONS
What is there in gay men’s lifestyles that
makes them more likely to contract this
disease? No one knows yet.
However, Ron Vachon, Sexually
Transmissible Disease Clinics Coordinator
for The Caucus of Gay Public Health
Workers, the American Public Health
Association, tells us that the Center for
Disease Control in Atlanta has established a
task force to investigate the unusually large
number of cases of this rare disease in gay
men. The National Cancer Institute had called
a conference on Kaposi’s sarcoma, which was
held in Washington, D.C. on September 15,
1981.
It has been speculated that these men have
lowered immunity to this disease. What
lowers their immunity?
MCC Notes:
RALEIGH—The past few weeks have seen
changes taking place in St. John’s MCC,
Raleigh and MCC-Fayetteville. To some it
may be a “game” called “Pastors’ Musical
Chairs,” but to those involved in the Universal
Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches, it is serious business.
St. John’s MCC’s founding pastor, the
Reverend Willie White, has departed to begin
a new study group in Rochester, NY. The
Rev. June Norris, who has served both St.
John’s and MCC-Fayetteville since June 1st,
has now been elected by the congregation to
become St. John’s first full-time pastor. Sean
Mathias, student clergyperson from
Charlotte, is acting as Fayetteville’s Worship
Coordinator.
Rev. Norris has been affiliated with the
UFMCC since 1971, was a licensed minister in
1973 and ordained to the lifetime position in
1974. She served as associate minister in the
“Mother Church,” (MCC-LA) in Los Angeles
until her move to Fayetteville in May 1980.
She was among the original student clergy
who received their training in the Fellowship’s
Seminary, “Samaratin Theological Institute”
in Los Angeles.
Rev. Norris is available for counseling by
appointment. Call the church’s new number
834 2611 Monday through Thursday 1-6 PM.
Sunday worship services are at 7:30 PM (3PM
December, January & February) at the
corner of Wade Avenue and Dixie Trail. ALL
are welcome!
ASHEVILLE—ON Saturday, September 12,
the Metropolitan Community Churches of
Asheville, N.C., Johnson City, and Knoxville,
Tennessee held a picnic at the Rock Creek
Park in Tennessee. The gathering, the first of
many outings planned, was viewed by the
churches as a success. Many people turned
out for the gathering, which allowed the
comrad churches to discuss and exchange
ideas on their mutual concerns of problems
facing the adjacent gay communities.
POPPER? Probably not, if they are lucky
enough to get real amyl. Patients who use
amyl for angina do not have a higher incidence
of this disease. But what about butyl nitrite or
its contaminants which may be found in Rush,
Locker Room, etc. These substances have no
quality control in their manufacturing that is
required by the Food and Drug
Administration. Many organic chemicals
(chloroform, benzene, etc.) are known to be
cancer causing or decrease the ability of the
bone marrow to produce the blood cells
involved in the resistance to disease.
EXCESSIVE DRINKING OF ALCOHOL
AND RELATED MALNUTRITION?
Probably not. If so, alcoholics would have an
increased rate of KS.
IS IT CONTAGIOUS? Dr. Tomsick says
that he is 95% sure that it is not
communicable. Although three of the NYC
patients had been sexual partners.
LARGE NUMBERS OF SEXUAL
PARTNERS? Maybe related in some way.
Some of the gay men who have had KS were
known to have 30 50 different sexual partners
in one week. This seems to be a large number
only attainable in metropolitan areas.
However, I have been told that 32 per week
has been achieved at Hart’s. “Is ten safe? Are
15 too many?”
Women who have multiple sexual partners
are known to have a higher rate of cancer of
the cervix and uterus.
SUGGSTIONS FOR PERSONAL
ACTION
In spite of the current sea of relative
ignorance of the causes of Kaposi’s sarcoma, I
“I told you. . . he’s mine, I found him, and I’m
going to keep him!"(from “Prince of the City”)
want to make the following suggestions until
more information and more specific
recommendations can be made:
1) Avoid or minimize the use of all
“recreational drugs” of unknown purity,
especially “poppers” (Rush, Locker Room,
etc.) That is—decrease our exposure to
chemicals that may lower our resistance to
bacteria and viruses.
2) Minimize our number of sexual partners.
Monandry (only one male partner) may
become the fashion! That is—decrease our
exposure to CMV.
John Harbin Boddie
Attorney at Law
Post Office Box 2414
Raleigh, N.C. 27602
115'/$ W. Morgan Street
(919) 833-9596
Jerry M. Trammell
2904 The Plaza
A ttorney at Law
(704) 372-2866
Charlotte. N.C. 28205
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OSH Pf"ZES
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