Gays and addiction

December 1, 1999

Hi all -

If one takes a look at the g/l/b/t (gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender)

community, I think it's pretty obvious why this is a high risk group for

addiction(s).

1)Not until VERY RECENTLY the ONLY place to socialize with others in the

g/l/b/t community, was the " gay bar " . Up until the time of the " Stonewall

Riots " in 1969, police were ALWAYS raiding and harassing gay bars. The

riots are now celebrated as " Gay Pride Day(s) " , being that the gay

subculture had ENOUGH of being harassed for going into a gay bar and being

potentially raided and arrested WITH many arrests being listed in public

NEWSPAPERS.

2) MANY MANY MANY g/l/b/t people were taught they were 'sinners' or were

'taunted' verbally or GAY BASHED, which still happens quite frequently

TODAY. (example - the Oct. 1998 gay bashing of Shepard in Wyoming or

It is NO WONDER that the g/l/b/t community turns to booze and or drugs to

'numb' out all of the HATRED they have encountered. I have a gay male friend

who was DISOWNED by his family at age 16 for being gay.

3) This one I think is really pathetic: Alot of Gay events are sponsored by

distilleries and/or breweries. If you pick up a Gay magazine or newspaper,

there is ALWAYS a huge ad in it or maybe several, targeting the Gay

community with glossy booze and beer ads.

Suffice to say - if I thought I might be a " condemned to death sinner " or

" disowned " by family, friends, co-worker's, X-tian right wing fanantic's etc

etc I think picking up a bottle or some pills might be a great way of

dealing with all of the bigotry, hatred and rhetoric spewed out all over the

place in regards to sexual orientation.

Today is WORLD AIDS DAY. And HIV/AIDS aint just for gays anymore. Thanks

to 1980's right wing government cut backs, crucial scientific research into

developing HIV/AIDS vaccines and other treatments were placed WAY on the

back burner. Gee, THANKS Ronnie and !

Remembering my HIV + friends -

~Trixxi

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