[kcvl]

In 1992 you made a passionate speech for AIDS Project Los Angeles in which you nailed all the people involved for not responding to the AIDS crisis appropriately. You talked about the homophobia involved and the terrible health crisis that mushroomed because of it. Can you update us on how you see people dealing with AIDS today, the drugs, the safe-sex issues, the good and bad human responses you’ve seen coming from your professional peers, friends, and family?

The Reagan years legitimized bigotry. AIDS, which even then affected as many if not more heterosexuals than homosexuals throughout the world, was dismissed as a gay disease with an official homophobic wink, implying that those deaths did not matter because of who was involved. Luckily for all of us, however, in 1992 there was a change in leadership, and with a new president came a new understanding of the need to fight this dreaded disease. In his time in office, President Clinton has made many changes in government policy toward the gay and lesbian community. He has appointed openly gay people to serve in his administration, has supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and has increased funding for AIDS research and prevention programs.

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STREISAND AIDS TRAGEDY

SHE COLLAPSES AS SON BATTLES DEADLY DISEASE

DEVASTATED: Barbra has vowed to do anything and everything to help her only son.

Barbra Streisand is reeling from a devastating AIDS crisis -- her only son is infected with the HIV virus

Jason Gould, the diva's 36-year-old son by actor Elliott Gould, has been diagnosed with the virus -- and Barbra has vowed to do anything and everything to help him

[Reagan Man]

It's unfortunate that Jason Gould has AIDS, but it was wrong to portray Ronald Reagan as being insensitive to those afflicted with the HIV virus. After Rock Hudson died from AIDS, PresReagan increased govt funding for RD thatw ould lead to an AIDS vaccine. Back in the 1980`s, 90% of AIDS victims were either homosexual or intravenous drug users. Today that figure has dropped to about 65%.