Ronald G.

Weightman

Med A120 Multicultural paper

October 14, 2008

I am sure it comes to no surprise that I would identify most closely to the

gay culture or the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer and

Questioning (GLBTQQ) community. Although my heritage is a hodgepodge, I

do pride myself being of the Irish, American Indian, and French persuasion

(that must have been some party!).

The earliest beginnings of the Gay culture in American can be found in

the 1950’s with the Mattachine Society and the Daughter of Bilitis. Since the

Stonewall riots of the 1960’s to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force of

the 1970’s, the politics of our cultural revolution exploded with ACTIVISM,

ADVOCACY and the message was PRIDE. We were no longer as afraid to

come out of the closet; we were no longer alone.

 From these beginnings we faced the most devastating plague known to

the 20th century. Known as the “gay” disease, we faced the horrors watching

our fathers, brothers, cousins, best friends and lovers being consumed and

wasting away before our eyes. Once again the early values we had learned

from Stonewall to the 1980’s forced us to band together and become

involved at a community level with education for prevention. A new found

spirit started to develop and catch fire.

This is where I came in. In droves, I saw my friends celestially check out; I

felt guilty for not catching the virus and being one of a handful remaining. I

buried myself in the politics of activism, education, and advocacy. Whether

they came from within or from without, I am not sure where these values

came from. I took these beliefs; now a new forged tool to develop skills in

fundraising. At a grassroots level, we the gay community of Tacoma and

Pierce County developed a new vision for our future. After all we were from

the City of Destiny.

We worked with Pierce County Aids Foundation and help start the First

Gay Pride Day and after 11 years it has grown into a huge community event.

Pride. We worked and helped with legislation to stop discrimination for

housing and employment in Pierce County. Activism. After all these years, I

have had to learn about self advocacy facing end-stage renal failure and

dialysis. I thank God for my experiences in my wide eyed and misguided

youth. I was directly involved and in my own unique way, I was able to make
a difference. Along the way, I was able to develop skills which would help me

survive my own disease.

Thinking back, most of my friends probably wouldn’t recognize me now. I

am a little older, a little heavier, and little more tired. I was a somewhat shy,

mistrusting and naive kid, but now I tend to be the clown. Humor whether it’s

a defensive tool or an educational one, doesn’t matter, as long as it’s

effective. Most people find me exhaustive, as I have been told, yet I have

always been the big shoulder for those that have been in need and nobody

cries alone in my presence. I continue in my community work but I have

branched out to help homeless shelters in King County and the North West

Kidney Foundation. Activism, Advocacy and Pride.

Healthcare over the years has gotten better; the drugs have gotten

better. Although, I cannot forget the discrimination we faced and the fight for

dignity, proper healthcare, research, and education, not only for the public,

but for all allied healthcare professionals for that time. I cannot tell you how

many eyes I looked into as young men faced their mortality. How foolish it

was to think we were invincible and sadly find out how mortal we truly

were.

On October 5, 1987 an episode of Designing Women appeared on television

entitled “Killing all the right people”. There were two monologues from that

episode which have been etched on my mind and haunting my memories

ever since.
Julia: Imogene, get serious! Who do you think you’re talking to? I’ve known

you for 27 years, and all I can say is…….If God was giving out sexually

transmitted diseases to people as a punishment for sinning, that you would

be at the free clinic all the time!....and so would the rest of us!!!

Mary Jo: What I am saying is I have a dear, sweet, funny friend—24 years

old, not very much older than the kids we’re talking about here—and he

came to me this week and asked me to help plan his funeral because he’s

dying….from AIDS—something that he got before he even knew what it was

or how to prevent it. I’ve been thinking about his mother this week, and what

she might give for the opportunity that I have tonight—that we all still have

here tonight—because now we know how to prevent AIDS. And I think it

really shouldn’t matter what your personal views are on birth control,

because we’re not just talking about preventing births anymore. We’re

talking about preventing deaths. Twenty-five thousand Americans have died,

and we’re still debating. Well, for me, the debate is over. More important

than what any civic leaders, PTA, or Board of Education thinks about

teenagers having sex, or any immoral act that my daughter or your son

might engage in…..the bottom line is I don’t think they should have to die for

it.

To those of you that have gone on before me, I hope in my own small

way I have been able to pay tribute to your memory….Ronnie

Bibliography
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots

http://www.glbtq.com

Queer America: a glbt history of the 20th century. By Prof. Vicki L. Eaklor

http://www.designingwomenonline.com/Episodes