Where Was Metro Pulse?
World AIDS Day 2000 was a beautiful thing in Knoxville. African dancers and drums, drama from the Actors Co-op, interpretation for the deaf, including a deaf person who signed her own story of living in the age of HIV, a young African-American woman who was infected with the virus by a man who knew he was positive and is now in prison for it, a handsome middle-aged man in full leather telling his story of living with the virus, a blind HIV-positive man singing in a sweet tenor voice, "I'll Be Seeing You in All the Old Familiar Places," to close the show, a gorgeous African-American woman who knocked the audience for a loop with her singing, a solo dance from Circle Modern Dance, a candlelight memorial led by counselor Nancy Mott, displays from the National Library of Medicine, Planned Parenthood and many others, a wonderful dessert reception and so many more things.
I am trying to figure out why the Metro Pulse was not part of this especially since you [Barry Henderson, managing editor] received into your hands from mine a press release and an ardent request to have a major story about this annual worldwide event. Metro Pulse also received at least two press releases and several phone calls. I even chased you around your offices to get your attention.
I am thinking about the two scathing articles concerning the HIV service community in Knoxville published in Metro Pulse. I am here to tell you that those articles are remembered with pain and pessimism that anything could be done in Knoxville to improve the lives of Persons Living with AIDS (PWAs) and those who are most at risk for becoming HIV positive, many of whom read your newspaper with loyalty and gratitude.
Instead, this globally important day received a glib, if not snide, mention with a truly inappropriate remark about praying to Allah and lighting a candle. With all the negative publicity your paper has given the HIV/AIDS community and your refusal to cover World AIDS Day 2000, it is hard to not think that you are contributing to an AIDS-a-phobic community norm, the very thing we are struggling so hard to change.
ARK perhaps had it coming. However imagine all the thousands of people affected by that devastating experience. Imagine the year-long scramble of PWAs to find even the most basic case management. Keep in mind there were precious too few people to handle that load.
I was not in Knoxville for that critical time. I moved here only eight months ago. I was, however, involved in HIV prevention work elsewhere and I can tell you Knoxville is no exception to what has happened in many cities and regions throughout America. AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) have had a difficult time adjusting to the changing face of HIV disease. From the largest to the smallest ASO, everyone has faced a crisis.
What I think is singular to Knoxville is the unbelievable and unforgivable reticence of leaders in the media, government and faith communities to let the epidemic go on without voicing some outrage. I do understand that when one speaks about HIV one is inviting a political melee. It is not easy to engage some people about HIV. I've been an AIDS educator for eight years and am no stranger to HIV's stigma. You as an editor are certainly no stranger to conflict.
Certainly cowardice was not the issue...was it?
What I can tell you is that other alternative newspapers in other cities have taken up the cause of HIV awareness. Many have made the decision to offer a weekly column about HIV, have produced special inserts for World AIDS Day, the annual AIDS walk and have publicized AIDS fund-raisers. What the pay off has been for them is to have paid advertisements from many businesses and ASOs who are grateful for their support. I urge you to establish or at least respond to a relationship with the HIV community in the future and to begin to be a reason why the rate of HIV infection is reduced and to be a reason why those living with the virus receive the most compassionate, empowering care available.
There are many people to contact in order to begin such a relationship: Knox County Health Department; the HOPE Center; Helen Ross McNabb AIDS Outreach program; the Tennessee AIDS Support Services, Inc. (located in Lenoir City); the Tennessee Association of Persons Living with AIDS; Knoxville Area chapter, Positively Living; the American Red Cross; Planned Parenthood of East Tennessee; the Oak Ridge Science Education unit of the National Library of Medicine; and so many more. I think you will be amazed at the dedication, ability and successes each of these agencies have.
Yes, Mr. Henderson, it is a sticky wicket to begin the first few steps to a positive relationship with the HIV community. All our values seem challenged at first. It's a challenge worth taking, however. Help Knoxville to grow deeper in their appreciation of life and their commitment to community.
Joe Tomlinson
World AIDS Day 2000 Planning Group Coordinator
Knoxville
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