Gay Pride Providence, RI 2016

While working for the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Social Worker Elise Angelini, a RN, with whom I had become acquainted with, told me she was HIV positive. She had been accidently stuck with a contaminated needle. Elise taught me everything she knew about HIV/AIDS. The VA medical center, at that time, was caring for several veterans having HIV.  Together, we became their advocates as well as providing needed information to medical staff caring for veterans with HIV. Early in 1988 I met the first veteran that had contracted HIV was Dean, a young man in his 20’s. He died shortly after meeting him. Over time we became all to familiar with the havoc of diseases as HIV diminished the body’s ability to fight infection.  Kaposi Sarcomas’, pneumocystis pneumonia, wasting syndrome et al became daily realities to those with this disease. Life expectancy, once acquiring HIV, was short. I have met many HIV positive men and women the majority of whom have died.

Later I joined with Debra Matson, a Social Worker, who was facilitating a family support group “Love Defines Family”. For several years, I was a co-leader of this group with Deb. These years served as my introduction to the gay community.  Act-up, pride, p-flag all became familiar to me. I became involved with the AIDS Quilt, visiting the mall in Washington, DC twice where the quilt was being displayed. A friend, Ken, Elise and I oversaw the designing and completion of the VA Providence Quilt which was sent to AIDS Quilt national to be included, at the time, was the largest display of art-work in the world. I marched with the P-flag group on Pride day, and walked with RI Project AIDS on their yearly AIDS walk which raised dollars to serve the HIV/AIDS population. I watched as “don’t ask don’t tell” became fashionable, then equality as gay marriage became a law. I saw the pain, sadness, determination and strength of character within this community.

After the horrific shootings a few weeks ago in Orlando, I began to rethink my political involvement in my own community. I’m now retired and keep up with the events of the day through CNN, MSNBC, the Providence Journal and discussions with firends. During all that what was happening; mass shootings, hatred, Donald Trump, and the division of the American people I did nothing, except voice an opinion which never got heard. Since then I have written to my State Representative, Joseph MacNamara asking about his position with assault weapons, which are still being sold in Rhode Island, although our neighbors from Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York have banned assault weapon sales. I learned that there were two bills in the RI assembly addressing assault type weapons.  However the Speaker of the house had tabled these bills. In the last hours of the close of the RI General Assembly both of these bills miraculasly was brought to the floor. One would have lowered regulations for the carrying of a concealed weapon in RI. Both issues were defeated.  As I see it, representatives became alarmed that such a last minute tactic of presenting these bills for a vote with no prior warning. I have decided to become a “one issue voter” for this upcoming election. If my representative is for banning assault weapon’s sale in RI and is active in pushing this legislation, then I will vote that way. If not, then I will vote against my current representative. Let me take a moment here to urge you to similarly take this “one issue” stance on voting on local and national politics. Be involved. Lawmakers do not necessarily represent the population that elected them into office. Lobbyist’s and money can be very persuasive in Rhode Island politics.

Gay Pride day was this week. I decided I would not stay home this year; instead I would travel to Providence to stand as one more person in support of this community. With camera in hand and beautiful weather the forecast, I set forth to Providence in mid afternoon and returned home mid evening, completely exhausted. First and foremost I had fun. Actually it was “insane fun.” As far as I could tell, every type of community, religious, politicians, men, women was there.The event committee deserves credit for doing a terrific job planning Gay Pride RI.  Hope the following images convey the glee of this day of Pride. As an aside, I was recently enjoying an evening with friends and telling them about my experience at Gay Pride and reflected, ” if there is such a thing as reincarnation then I want to come back gay. To me they appear to be such free sprits. I envy that. Thanks to the Gay Pride committee for your time and efforts in planning a thoroughly peaceful, fun day with many moments of heartfelt joy and reflection.