by Eric A. Crabtree
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Let's All Get Along!
Hey Austin, let's all come together as one and not against each other. Our Pride, compassion and giving should last 12 months a year, not just one. We should all treat everyone with respect, kindness and toleration because we live in a world of hatred, discrimination, insecurity, labels, intolerance and, yes, AIDS. It seems that we as GLBT communities don't always all get along with each other or ourselves. Some of us dish each other, sometimes in camp, but mainly in hatred to make our own selves feel better or those around us respect or like us more. Derogatory or slanderous remarks only reflect a lack of self-esteem. We hate people or things that are different from us and sometimes cause physical and emotional behaviors that are harmful to others.
As Homosexual men and women we need to be more tolerate of each other. I still believe that if we were ever contacted by outer space, all wars would come to a halt. The heterosexual community already is tough enough to deal with. Our GLBT community should band together more within itself. Try and make friends in our communities. Make friends with your enemies or at least keep them close at hand. Look for positive role models. Stop criticizing so much. Cherish the friends you have and don't stop making new ones. There are no A-Listers in Heaven so try to grow beyond your own and run in some other circles. Variety is the spice of life. As an Ambush reporter, I go in and out of about 20-30 different circles a week and I believe I am a much rounder and a better person for it all. We are all one under God's or your higher spirit's eyes. Attitude is the key and one of the first things people notice so make it a positive one. Make the most of a bad day or help turn someone else's day into a smile. Just be yourself. Remember we were all ready as youngsters to make friends, learn, be happy, and couldn't wait until recess to go "play." Let's make our community stronger. Volunteer or help out in charities. Try something or someplace new. We are all here but for a short time. Honor thy neighbor and love and respect yourself. It starts with you & me. Make a difference but "Make it Happen!"
Dining for Life Oct. 4
Mon., Oct. 4 is the date for Aids Services of Austin (ASA) 7th annual Dining For Life. The event will take place at over 100 restaurants around the city. Dining for Life is a dining event to benefit HIV/AIDS agencies. The event allows patrons of local restaurants to eat, drink and be merry and the restaurants will, in turn, donate a portion of the money spent on one's meal to ASA. With so many restaurants participating in the event, one is sure to find his favorite eating establishment. Patrons who wish to dine out on Mon., Oct 4 need only bring in their ticket segment coupon found in Ambush and the proceeds will be donated. Coupons may also be printed by visiting aidswalkaustin.org/dining.html. For more info., call Heath Riddles at Aids Services of Austin (ASA) at 512.406.6175.
There is still NO cure for AIDS yet. There are approximately 6,000 men, women and children in Travis County living with HIV. Every 13 minutes, one American is infected with HIV. Every minute around the world, five young people ages 10 to 24 are infected with HIV. The Austin/Travis County reports from their July 2 AIDS Surveillance Report, that there have been over 3,000 confirmed cases of AIDS. Over 1,800 of these men, women and children have died. 23% of these Austinites who have had AIDS were 20 to 29 years of age, indicating that many were infected with HIV in their teen years. 26% of these people with AIDS are African-American and 18% are Hispanic, indicating that the demographics in Austin are changing. Overall, 48,000 Texans were diagnosed with AIDS by Dec., 1998 and over 24,000 are now deceased. Texas ranks fourth nationwide in diagnosed AIDS cases.
Oct. 9 is Texas Coming Out Day
The Lesbian Gay Rights Lobbyists of Texas (LGRL) will be hosting Texas Coming Out Day on Sat, Oct. 9 in conjunction with National Coming Out Day scheduled for Mon., Oct. 11. This free event will be held at Woolridge Park at 10th and Guadalupe from noon till 6pm, with great music featuring live bands, food, beer and fun events. Some 30-community LGBT friendly businesses and organizations are scheduled to appear with 1,000 in attendance. Shake your groove thang later that night at the Woman's Dance Party at 8pm. This party will be held at Gaby and Mo's located at 1809 Manor Rd. Corporate sponsorship for this year's Texas Coming Out Day on Oct. 9 is sponsored by Ambush, Austin Chronicle, Texas Triangle, 107.1 KGSR and the HIV Wellness Center. To volunteer or to receive more info, contact LGRL's Calkin Fund at 512.474.5475 or visit their Web site at: lgrl.org/newpage/. More information may be obtained on LGRL by calling their headquarters at 512.474.5475 or writing to them at PO Box 2340, Austin, TX 78768.
AIDS Walk Scheduled for Oct. 24
The 12th Annual Aids Walk Austin will be held Sun., Oct. 24 at Waterloo Park. The Walk is a five-kilometer fundraising event starting and ending in Waterloo Park, 12th and Red River. The Walk benefits AIDS Services of Austin (ASA) and 14 other HIV & other AIDS service providers in Central Texas. The Walk sign-in begins at 12 noon & the Walk at 2pm. Closing ceremonies are immediately following the Walk. This year's Austin's Walk celebrity spokeswoman is Ginger Mackenzie. Ginger features her song, "The Garden of You and I," and can be heard from the Walk Web site along with a message urging all to volunteer and assist this year's Aids Walk. Individuals or teams wishing to participate can receive a Walk packet mailed to them by calling 512.452.WALK (9255) or E-mail at asawalk@hotmail.com or by visiting the Walk Web site at aidswalkaustin.org. Last year, each walker raised an average of $125, but any amount raised is appreciated. All who raise over $125 will receive an AIDS Walk Commemorative T-shirt. At the $250 level, fundraisers get the T-shirt and cap, at $500 they get all included plus a gift certificate to City Grill. At the $1,000 level, they get all prizes plus and a land rover off road event with 3 friends at the Land Rover Ranch. Anyone earning the most money gets two free tickets anywhere that American Airlines fly Internationally. Additional info. can be obtained by calling 512.406.6115 or from the Web site.
TGRA Rodeo Slated in Austin
The 16th Annual Texas Gay Rodeo will be held this year from Nov. 11-14 with most events hosted at the Travis County Exposition Center located at 7311 Decker Lane or Rainbow Cattle Company (RCC). Austin is the Host City for this annual event sponsored by the Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) in affiliation with the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA). Grand Marshal for the TGRA Rodeo will be State Rep. Glen Maxey. Events start at 7pm on Thurs., Nov 11 at Rainbow Cattle Company with a TGRA Royalty Competition. A $5 voluntary door donation is requested. On Fri. Nov 12 at the Host Hotel - Holiday Inn-Austin South, registration from 6pm -9pm. Registration is in the Friendship/Mercury Ballroom. From 8pm to midnight it's the TGRA "Y'all Come Party" with free admission/cash bar in the Apollo Ballroom. On Sat., Nov. 13, at the Travis County Exposition Center, is the New Contestant meeting at 9am and the TGRA Rodeo begins at 10am. After the day's Rodeo, a dance contest is hosted at RCC with compulsories at 1pm. The Dance Finals/Freestyle competition begins at 6pm. A $5 voluntary door donation is requested. On Sun., Nov. 14, the Rodeo concludes at 10 am and Awards Ceremony at 8pm at the Apollo Ballroom at the Host Hotel - Holiday Inn-Austin South.
The traditional rodeo events as well as some fun and very funny events will entertain spectators unique to IGRA rodeos such as the Wild Drag Race which takes place on both days of rodeo performance. It consists of a team of 3 people, one male one female and one dressed in drag. The object is for the male and female team member to haze a steer across a line out in the area and get the drag on top of the steer to ride it across the line again. Performers for the rodeo for Sat. and Sun. are to contact Jame Roberts in Houston at 713.988.6720 or E-mail jametgra@aol.com. Vendor spaces are available for only $100 for businesses for all day Sat. Nov. 13 & Sun Nov. 14. Non-profit/charitable spaces are available for $25. There is RV/camper parking at the Exposition center with electrical/water hookup for $10 per night. The Host Hotel is the Holiday Inn - Austin South at 3401 South I-35 (Woodward exit across from IRS!) at 512.448.2444 (Must mention 3-letter "TGR" for special rate) An alternate hotel is the Holiday Inn Express - Austin/Bergstrom Intl. Airport located at 2751 E. Highway 71/Ben White. Rodeo program ads for this year are $300 full page, $200 half page, $175 1/3 page, $150 1/4 page, $75 business card, and this year there is a special messages/honorariums section that costs $10 for 3 lines of copy. Contracts/info available for ad or vendor space may be obtained through Jim Gadient - TGRA in Dallas at 3235 Basil Court, Dallas TX 75204-5542 or phone/fax: 214-821-1560 or E-mail at spurmarks@aol.com.
Buckle sponsorships are $175, available through Tom Karam at 330 West Agarita, San Antonio TX 78212 or phone 210.733.0657 or E-mail at hdwetom@aol.com. Rodeo and Horse Contestants are to contact TGRA State President Jeanne McLeod at PO Box 460875, San Antonio TX 78246-0875 or phone 210.946.7787 or E-mail at jmcleod@earthlink.net. Tickets for the Rodeo Weekend may be ordered from Charley Lanier at PO Box 191314, Dallas TX 75219, or phone 214.526.1544 or E-mail at charleylanier@yahoo.com. Tickets are $15 for the first, $10 for each subsequent ticket (good for either day - save money and order a lot at once). Also, TGRA encourages folks to sponsor a few tickets for local PLWA's, which will be distributed to Austin AIDS charities. More info on TGRA or the Rodeo may be obtained by calling the Rodeo Hotline at 210.946.7787 or (210.9GO.SPUR) or from the Web site at www.tgra.org.
