The following is a press release from OFFAIDS
(Posted 5-11-02)

The Band Still Plays On

Years ago, when I began testing for HIV after being trained by the OSDH, the forms to be filled with information about the individual being tested listed only two years - 1989 and 1990, as I recall. The disease, heinous as it was, would be spoken of in the past tense by the turn of the decade so additional years were unnecessary. At the time, there was little in place either locally or nationally concerned with the new disease. President Reagan, himself the father of a gay son, did what many Americans did. He looked the other way, saying that whatever problem there was, was the result of a “lifestyle,” and refused government aid.

A group of friends, both gay and straight, came together in the Oklahoma City area to help with the sudden crisis laden medical expenses borne by those who tested positive. Many were directly involved with the medical aspects of the disease and knew exactly how costly treatment was proving to be. Well aware of the healing nature of humor, they named themselves the Valley Girls from Mars. They set out to have one whale of a good time pursuing serious goals and put on Oklahoma City’s first Cabaret party. They started by each donating a sizable amount for seed money and then getting their costs underwritten in the community. The event proved to be such a success they threw a second party called Halloween. Both parties have since become fixtures, part of the standard calendar, and the best parties going with ticket prices that have always been kept affordable.

Several years and many dollars later the group with the unlikely name joined forces with a national fundraising organization consisting of members and friends of the design industries. The organization was known as DIFFA, Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS. Now we are OFFAIDS with the professionalism gained from many years of fundraising and once again local so that all money raised locally is spent locally.

Although we wish there were no need for our existence, sadly the need is growing, rather than going away. And the growing need is among young gay men. What in the hell are they thinking? Surely they are not assuming there’s a magic bullet out there. We thought that in the ‘80s, and in the early ‘90s and the more that was learned of the virus that leads to AIDS, the more we knew there was no cure on the horizon. Yes, life for some can be prolonged but for those who cannot tolerate the “cocktail” or haven’t the discipline to take the medicine exactly as prescribed, staying alive is a struggle. At the end of March of this year Oklahoma had 982 cases of HIV among people between 20 and 29. In that same age group, another 792 had AIDS. We had 969 HIV cases among those between 30 and 39 and 1,881 with AIDS. For a time during the 1990s the number of new HIV cases among gay men dropped dramatically as safe sex became a way of life. Now it seems we are plunging once again into some strange pit of denial with the same moronic remarks being made all over again. “I can tell who’s sick and who isn’t.” “Being positive is no big deal. Meds will keep me well until there’s a cure.” “Everybody's going to get it anyway so why not have fun now.” “I practice safe sex most of the time.”

For the past twelve years VGFM=DIFFA=OFFAIDS has raised funds to help care-giving organizations. Grants to date have totaled $174,330. We are proud to announce that our 2002 recipients are:

• The Winds House to help fund the salary of their residences manager
• Planned Parenthood whose “Protection Connection” condom distribution program supplies over 80 groups
• Red Rock BHS/The Center for condom distribution to the gay venues on NW 39th Street

Private and public funds for condom distribution are very scarce, and many groups involved in HIV prevention do not have the money to purchase condoms for outreach and education. Condoms and lubricant are essential products in running an effective prevention program. In addition, the availability of condoms is itself a message of prevention.

When we formed, more than a decade ago, we planned to stay for the long haul. Stay with us – help us help others.

--Jayne Hazleton-Campbell, OFFAIDS Secretary
--Keith Reding, OFFAIDS Grants Chair