From: tal@plts.uucp (Tom Limoncelli)
Subject: My last 3 weekends
Organization: Tom's Box of Ahedonia
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 03:53:37 GMT

Hey all!  I haven't had much time to mail or post anything lately, so I
thought I'd tell you what's up with me lately.

2 weeks ago I went with some people to Brooklyn College to talk about
organizing campus queer groups.  It was a small audience, but I thought
it was pretty good.  We got to see another workshop being done by a kid
from Florida with AIDS.  He's straight, but isn't homophobic.  He has
spoken to congress against Kim Bergalis (woman that contracted HIV
from, most likely, her dentist; who spent the rest of her remaining
days lecturing hate, homophobia, and dis-information about HIV and
AIDS).  Afterwords all the presenters were taken out for a meal, and I
got to sit with him.  He was very interesting.  His sister is also
touring with him and is well spoken and much more well-read on current
politics.  It was interesting to find out that they were upset because
their flight was delayed and they weren't able to see the workshop I
was a part of!  (they told me this before they found out that I was
part of that workshop).  Anyway, he's touring highschools and colleges
educating people about HIV and AIDS and is saying all The Right Things
(i.e. things that are true, things that teach responsibility, things
that the government refuse to say lest people will understand the
situation and help themselves).  All in all, it was worth taking the
day off from work.

2 weekends ago I went to this year's NELGBSA (North East Lesbian Gay
Bisexual Student Association) conference.  Laura and I gave a workshop
on how the New Jersey Gay Civil Rights Bill was passed (a student's
perspective, at least).  More importantly I met up with TONS of
activists that I haven't seen in a while.  Laura and I shared the hotel
room with Drew Lewis and Fred (don't know his last name, sorry Fred!)
and threw the BEST fucking party I've been to in a long time.  About 20
people total were there, but usually no more than 10 were there at any
time.  Laura made numerous connections/friends/lovers as did just about
everyone.  It was really hot!  (and [as always] drug-free,
alcohol-free, and safe).  Hi to everyone that was there! *hugs*

Last weekend Laura and I went to D.C. for the weekend.  Friday we drove
down with a friend from this area.  We spent the weekend shopping,
dining and seeing the sights.  In the middle of nowhere we happen to
meet up with Fred (see previous paragraph) as well as numerous others.
Some of the other people crashing where we were knew Greg Woodbury (hi
Greg!) and Leroy Diener (does anyone have contact info for Leroy?).  I
also talked for about an hour with someone from the Buchanan campaign
before I discovered who he was!  I thought he was just an ingorant clod
with lots of questions.  Later I was embarrassed to find out who he
worked for.  I don't think I gave away too many secrets of the secret
bisexual terrorist organizations that I belong to (just kidding, of
course), but it was really scary to re-play the conversation in my mind
later to try to remember if I told him anything really bad.  Anyway, I
did tell him my theory about why 80% of Catholic priests are gay, so if
you start seeing headlines like, "Buchanan's new fight: Gay Priests" you
know at least one thing I said to him made it back to the campaign
office. :-)

Saturday was the 23th anniversary of the assination of Rev. Martin
Luther King, Jr.  Laura and I attended a rally for D.C. statehood held
by Jesse Jackson.  For those of you that don't know, Jesse was one of
MLK's closest friends and supporter.  At the rally he told the story
about how on that day 23 years ago MLK was shot while walking with
Jesse into a hotel.  He talked about how from that day on all of MLK's
workers pledged themselves to the finishing MLK's work and most
importantly, keeping the hope alive.  I was a real moving experience to
hear him talk.  Since I have studied and listed to tapes of MLK's
speeches (including his speach made at Great Hall at Drew University)
it was amazing to hear the same themes in a 1992 version.  It really
reminds me how far things have come, yet how far they must go.

On Sunday, The DC March for Reproductive Freedom itself was
impressive.  Over 750,000 people and quite possibly a million.  I saw
that the Star Ledger ran an equal number of inches about the 30 people
that protested in Morristown.  It pisses me off that equal number of
columns can give the effect that two protests were equally impressive.
Don't believe it.  BTW, the woman that runs Republicans For Choice
revealed that a poll found 68% of all Republicans are pro-choice.  If
activists have it their way, reproductive freedom will be the largest
issue this November.  It also pisses me off that the company that could
bring RU-486 to the states is HQ'ed about 20 miles from where I sit
right now.  In my own county of Summerset.  I think it's time to target
them.

Anyway, as I said before I've been really busy lately.  I thought I'd
write this to tell people where I've been and why I haven't been
answering email as quickly as usual.  I also want people to know that I
haven't fallen off the face of the earth, been fired, broken up, and
certainly have not stopped being an activist.  (by the way, my job's
fine but it's as busy as the rest of my life).  Luckily, I *love* to be
busy.

In other news, I heard from Drew Alumni/ae Anna Kelly.  I don't know if
any of you knew her (short, busty, long hair, lived in Welch first my
sophomore year, Madison House the next, then dropped out).  She wrote
to tell me that she ditched the guy she left school to marry, has
returned to school (different one), and is doing well.  If anyone wants
to write to her, I can get you her address.

Lastly, life is not all fun and games.  I really miss seeing you people
(in real life and those that I only know from the computer network).
The more busy I get, the less time I have to read the net and visit y'all.

*hugs*

Stay beautiful!

Tom
-- 
Tom Limoncelli -- tal@plts.uucp (play) -- tal@warren.mentorg.com (work)