“A Life lived in Fear, Is a Life Half-Lived…”
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“A Life lived in Fear, Is a Life Half-Lived…”
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- Lewis Freedman Opening Doors Together
There is an old native North American Indian tradition called Heyoehkah. The Heyoehkahs, or sacred clowns, were people within the tribe who "did things differently", challenged people's thinking, shook them up. Their function was to keep their people from getting stuck in rigid ways of thinking and living. They were also know as "contraries" because they lived backwards. They walked backward, danced backward, everything they did was contrary to the norm. By their living, they symbolized the shadow of the Creator God, reminding people of their spiritual center. For gay people, the role of Heyoehkah is especially important: not only are Heyoehkahs often gay, the role of contrary is a sacred symbol of the role we play among society as a whole. Not long ago, a handsome courageous, young, gay Indian named Richard, danced Heyoehkah at a powwow. When I heard about it, shivers ran down my spine. It was a sign of remembering. It was a sign that we are remembering our relation to the Great Spirit and that the Creator God is remembering us. His dance also made me realize that from the beginning there has been a Heyoehkah response to AIDS. When the normal response was to react with fear and panic, there were people dancing backward, responding with love and confidence. When, every day, the world began repeating a death mantra, our sacred clowns danced the dance of life. They talked about living with AIDS, surviving, healing, recovering. When the normal reaction to a diagnosis was isolation, our Heyoehkahs dragged us into a community. When the world wanted us to be victims, they drew circles of light around themselves and stood in their power. Whenever it got dark, they turned toward the light. Whenever people said there is no hope, they said there is always hope. Whenever people said this isn't about us, they stood up and said, "This is about you. This is about us as well. Our planet is sick. Earth has acquired an immune dysfunction. We are all living with AIDS." The heart of this book is inspired by that magical AIDS community of sacred clowns, the contrary people who keep hope alive, who stay spirit-centered, who "do things differently." Perry Tilleraas - The Color of Light: Meditations for All of Us Living with AIDS Greetings Y'all! A select committee of local HIV/AIDS Advocates met yesterday with Education/Prevention Specialist, Clint Ibele of No Ky Health to begin planning for this years World AIDS Day Observance. We have undertaken an ambitious project to revive the passion with which we once faced the epidemic...Wait for the UNAIDS logo above to change and then run your mouse over! World AIDS Day is commemorated around the globe on 1 December. It celebrates progress made in the battle against the epidemic — and brings into focus remaining challenges. World AIDS Day 2004 will focus on Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS — the theme for the World AIDS Campaign 2004. Through its focus on women and girls, the year-long campaign aims to accelerate the global response to HIV and AIDS – preventing new infections, promoting equal access to treatment and mitigating the impact of AIDS. We are mounting a weeklong schedule of events around Wednesday December 1st. The current outline begins on Monday November 29th when displays will open in various locations. We have a committment from Kenton County and outreach was assigned for Boone, Campbell and Grant Libraries. St. John United Church of Christ at 520 Fairfield in lovely downtown Bellevue will be our hosts for this years Service of Remembrance. The service will begin at 7:00 pm and the photo exhibit "Kentucky Faces of AIDS" will be open an hour before and after it. For more information go to www.StJohnChurch.net We are also working with an offer from the cast of "The Laramie Project" to host a benefit performance of the current production. Rick from Woolly's on Monmouth is handling those details. SoBank CARES will do online outreach and communications. As you may know, our developing organization was born as the result of this years theme for the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial held for the first time here this May. My hope and intent is that we have turned our Remembrance into ACTION by creating a CommUNITY-Based organization that brings a stronger and more respected response to the fact that there's now a HIVe in every neighborhood of the South Bank HIV CommUNITY. "When the drumbeat changes The DANCE Changes" All who wish to be involved in the "Heyoehkah" dance on The South Bank for World HIV/AIDS Day 2004 are invited to contact Clint Ibele, Prevention/Education Specialist of the Northern Ky Health Department at 859-578-7660, myself at 859-291-2214 or sign in to our regular Sunday evening Open Chat! Best Regards, Michael aka The Queen Bee of The South Bank HIVe @ Seminary Square "I want you to open your hearts and see the world in a different way. You get from the world what you give to the world. I promise this will change your life for the better." Oprah!  "I used to be afraid of dying, I'm not anymore. I'm more afraid of what happens to the people who live..." And The Band Played On
AIDS Quilt Founder, Cleve Jones in the June 2001 POZ Magazine
Youth Explosion Event Targets Covington Teens
On August 6, a new program for teens was among the many offerings during the Old Timer’s Fest in Covington, Ky. Youth Explosion, a workshop for young people, offered education about HIV/AIDS, abstinence and STDs, along with food, games and prizes. Teens aged 12-18 participated in the workshops and had the opportunity to hear from a panel of people who are living with HIV/AIDS. Participants were also able to eat, play games and win prizes. The Old Timer’s Fest is an annual event on Covington’s East Side.
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