One of our great volunteers, Todd Miller, read and review “The Normal Heart” for us.  We’ve excerpted his review below: enjoy, and feel free to comment!  (We hope to see you in Randolph on December 1st too!) 

+++++++++

    “An Uncommon Point Of View”:  Taking A Look At The Play, “The Normal Heart” by Larry Kramer

“The Normal Heart”, by Larry Kramer, was written in 1985, as a play of concern about the origins of AIDS in New York City.  I found it to be as fast moving, as it is readable.  This play, “The Normal Heart” is being put on for World’s AIDS Day, December 1, 2011, in Randolph.  Vermont CARES feels it will be of meaning and value to take a look at the play, with this review, as the uncommon view about the past, present and future of AIDS in America.

 When AIDS first hit New York City, back in the early 1980’s, very few cared one way or the other.  There were about a million LGBTQ people in New York City, and the threat of AIDS was real the world over.  The numbers were small and unexplained at first.  And since AIDS was already an epidemic, because it was real threat, spanning the globe, it was also unexplained as a social disease, by and large.

The play is fine-tuned to clearly show the cast of characters of the play:  young, successful, white, gay men living with AIDS. They also realize that AIDS is already an insidious epidemic, with a growth potential to match. The entire cast of characters of the play (which only includes one woman, the doctor of the AIDS clinic) specifically care about the political cause, for the need of medical concern and the prevention of AIDS. The fact that they have AIDS is important to these men, but the fact that they really having a bleeding heart for the lives of all people, given the threat of AIDS the world over, is of far more importance.

So this is not only a suitable play to go see, and really take home with you, on December 1, 2011, World AIDS Day, it really portends to be the uncommon point of view about the hard line about AIDS in the here and now:

“.  . . I spent fifteen years of my life fighting for our right to be free and make love whenever, wherever . . . And you’re telling me that all those years of what being gay stood for it wrong . . . and I’m a murderer.  We have been so oppressed!  Don’t you remember how it was?  Can’t you see how important it is for us to love openly, without hiding and without guilt?” (p.103)

 “The Normal Heart” is about the insurgence of AIDS as it started to affect the people of the world, not only the gay population of New York City in the 1980’s. Pregnant women, women of Africa, peoples of all color the world over had AIDS then, as they do now. 

Nobody knows why powers that be didn’t intervene to stop or slow the spread of the virus, as they do today. It is hard to know why AIDS was not an immediate and nationwide concern at the time of this play: therefore, as a theme, it is a very good question for the work to ponder over.  “The Normal Heart”, as a play, is the need for the uncommon point of view.  The play is also to resonate as the legitimate, uncommon point of view, over the real scare of AIDS today, in hope of someday finding a cure for this epidemic at long last.

Vermont CARES is very proud to be partnering with other Vermont-based community organizations to sponsor Vermont Pride 2012.  To get our committee rallied, we are looking for a Pride Coordinator.  Position description and instructions below:

WANTED: Energetic, organized, dynamic individual to oversee the Vermont Pride Committee. Outright Vermont, RU12? Community Center, and Vermont CARES are teaming up to find a chair to help make Pride 2012 a successful event. A small stipend will be awarded.
 
Responsibilities include:  

•   Oversight of the Pride Committee and facilitation of meetings
•   Oversight and support of fundraising for Pride  
•   Working with the fiduciary (Outright Vermont) to track the budget  
•   Coordination with the City of Burlington and other venues to schedule and secure permits for Pride events  
•   Management of publicity  
•   Facilitating communication and organization of partners in Pride

Interested? Email a brief letter of interest and a resume to VTPride2012@gmail.com by Friday November 4, 2011.

The date will be June 9, 2012, with the first routes estimated to start at around 6am; big picnic will start at around 11:30am. We will continue to update our website and Champ Ride Twitter feed as we solidify routes, start times, picnic sponsors, and possible training rides. We hope you can join us for our biggest annual fundraiser, and please email peter@vtcares.org if you have any questions, want to learn more, or can volunteer to make this event a big success for our 25th anniversary.

The date will be March 10, 2012 from 7pm to 11pm. Other details will be determined in coming months, and we will be soliciting auction items through the coming seven months. We hope you can join us for our premiere fundraiser, and please email peter@vtcares.org if you have any questions, want to learn more, or can volunteer to make this event a big success for our 25th anniversary.

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/137856115/antiretroviral-drugs-hold-promise-for-hiv-prevention

This seems a hard system to implement, but the potential impact could be significant. Vermont CARES advocates strongly any and all research into reducing HIV transmission, and reminds all Vermonters that our staff are available to discuss how you can reduce your HIV risks at any time, especially as part of an HIV testing session. Call 800-649-2437 to learn more.

http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/adaaa_info.cfm

Vermont has its own laws making illegal discrimination based on HIV, but the EEOC’s clarificiation is certainly welcome.  More on VT’s HIV discrimination law: 

http://www.glad.org/rights/vermont/c/hiv-anti-discrimination-law-in-vermont/

For example, on this snowy day, one needs only look out the window to the falling snow – and falling temperatures – to connect in a visceral and emotional way to DC’s decisions.  The Administration’s budget decision to cut home heating assistance in FY2012 would harm people who cannot afford heat, and we in Vermont know this all too well.  Of the roughly 150 families affected by HIV/AIDS we serve each year, more than two in three need help paying heat bills.  Our Vermont Congressional delegation has opposed theseand other cuts, but we need all our allies across the country to speak in a united voice that cuts to those most in need cannot build a budget that is balanced fiscally and ethically.

Vermont’s Peter Welch also voted last week against drastic cuts to this current federal budget, which included cuts to Planned Parenthood, mental health programs, the CDC, and many other programs that effect our clients each day.  We applaud this stance, since many programs slated for these cuts provide tangible benefits for our stakeholders *and* ultimately save resources in the long-term.

Upcoming debates about health care reform – both in the Vermont Statehouse and in DC – are going to provide amazing opportunities to focus affirmatively on our neighbors without insurance or routine medical care. 

As Vermont CARES gears up our policy positions this legislative session, we keep our focus on policy that directs benefit to those we serve every day, through HIV prevention work, through care and housing programs, and through broad community education.  Add your voice to many others, and return here for more perspectives on how law and procedure affect health and community strength overall.

Vermont CARES is so proud to be working with a range of partners around Chittenden County – from colleges to other social service organizations – in an effort to really call attention to World AIDS Day this year.  December 1st annually (and globally) marks an opportunity to honor all those we love – and those we have lost – in the AIDS epidemic. 

Below is a developing schedule of area World AIDS Day events.  More are sure to come, so check back.  Check out our Facebook page as well for more details, and to RSVP for our main event on December 1st or our wine tasting and body art fundraiser on December 3rd. 

Monday, November 29:

- “Breaking Barriers: Fighting Stigma”* screening in Montpelier – Kellogg-Hubbard Library (6pm)

- Ongoing during the week: Rutland County’s AIDS Quilt panels on display at Green Mountain College

- Ongoing during the week: Rutland VDH displaying World AIDS Day materials at Merchant’s Row offices

Tuesday, November 30:

- UVM’s “Facing AIDS” campaign debut – Davis Center, UVM (time TBD)

Wednesday, December 1 – World AIDS Day:

- Free HIV testing midday at UVM

- Tabling (red ribbons and testing info) in public venues in Burlington 11am-3pm

- “Breaking Barriers: Fighting Stigma”* screening in Burlington – Merrill’s Roxy (5:30pm)

- World AIDS Day reception at the Firehouse Gallery on Church St. Burlington (7-9pm)

Thursday, December 2:

- Film screening at UVM (film, location, time TBD)

- Potential GLAM social event (location, name, time TBD)

Friday, December 3:

- Wine tasting & Body Painting & Sushi to benefit Vermont CARES at One Main Street Great Room, Burlington (7-10pm) ($30 tickets in advance only – see website for more information)

Saturday, December 4:

- “Lose the Shoes” fundraising tournament, hosted by Futbol Para la Vida (Dominican HIV education program through soccer) – UVM, Burlington

- “Breaking Barriers: Fighting Stigma”* screening in St. Johnsbury – Catamount Arts Center (4pm)

* “Breaking Barriers: Fighting Stigma” is an anti-stigma film Vermont CARES produced and launched in September 2010, and has been approved by the Department of Education’s Health Education Resource Center as a teaching tool statewide.

December 3, 2010: 7pm to 10pm

THE MAIN STREET LANDING PERFORMING ARTS CENTER – 60 Lake Street Burlington, VT

Please join us for a very special night, including

• Wine tasting and expertise by Bel Canto Wine
• Local Sushi Chef Nathan Belcher
• Bar service provided by The Skinny Pancake
• Music by DJ Frank Grymes
• Selected wine auction
• Full body painted human works of art by The Human Canvas

Limited tickets! $30 per person
Must be purchase in advance by November 30th
Contact Wendy at 802-863-2437, ext 14 or wendy@vtcares.org

Rachel Koh, a UVM student, states “at this time I would invite us all to be together to show support for our communities: the UVM community, the Burlington community, the LGBTQA community, the nation, whatever communities you identify with, because suicide affects all of us. Let’s join together in remembrance and solidarity.”

Jan Donley, author of the recently published young adult novel, The Side Door, will participate in a discussion with youth before the vigil. The Side Door is about a 15-year-old high school student who comes out as a lesbian and forces her community to deal with issues of sexual orientation, gender expression, and youth suicide.

This event will mark the start of Suicide Prevention Week. Join us at UVM’s Allen House, 461 Main Street in Burlington, on Monday, October 4, at 6pm for the discussion with Jan Donley and at 7:30pm for the candlelight vigil. We will walk from Allen House to the Green, where the vigil will start at 8pm. Youth needing transportation should contact Outright Vermont at (802) 865-9677 or email info@outrightvt.org.