Gay Straight Partnership hosts Cleve Jones, the founder of the AIDS Memorial Quilt
(-- The Beacon)
By Rose Hoonan, Staff Writer -- hoonan15@up.edu
"Have any of you ever received a death threat?" Cleve Jones asked. "It's a weird thing. These people, they would call me at 6 a.m. Girl, I am not a morning person!"
Invited by the University of Portland's Gay Straight Partnership, the prominent gay rights activist spoke in Mago Hunt Recital Hall Tuesday. Jones is best known for founding the AIDS Memorial Quilt. A nationwide project, the quilt memorializes over 80,000 Americans killed by AIDS.
While on campus, Jones talked about his experiences as a gay rights and AIDS activist.
In the 1970's Jones was an intern for Harvey Milk, who, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, was the first openly gay man in the U.S. to be elected to public office. Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978.
Jones was inspired by Milk and continued to fight for gay rights following Milk's assassination.
"Harvey had this ability to find common ground with anybody," Jones said. "He won the heart of San Francisco."
It wasn't long before Jones became aware of the shocking death toll from AIDS in San Francisco.
"By November 1985, almost everyone I knew was dead or dying," Jones said. "One thousand in San Francisco had died of AIDS and almost every one of them had died within six blocks of the corner of Castro and Market (streets)."
The AIDS epidemic caused controversy and exposed the difficulties the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community faced.
"There were bumper stickers that stated, ‘AIDS: it's killing all the right people,'" Jones said. "Homophobics said it was a gay disease. Anyone who says this is woefully uninformed."
Jones is still upset at the thought of gay people being blamed for the AIDS epidemic.
"I'm still angry about it," Jones said. "I'm still sad. I still miss my friends. Almost everyone I loved did not survive. But they are remembered."
Jones faced his own challenges. He was once beat up and stabbed in the neck.
"I could only tell these stories by putting jokes in it, or else neither you or me would get through it," Jones said. "It's so easy to be cynical, but you have to have hope."
Throughout the night, Jones was well aware of the fact that he was on a Catholic campus.
"I find myself censoring what I say, being at a Catholic university," Jones said.
He also expressed discontent with the current non-discrimination policy at UP, which does not include sexual orientation.
"It is ironic that at a school like this, you don't have protection," Jones said.
Once finished speaking, Jones received a standing ovation.
Freshman Sam Lee said the crowd was awed.
"It was extremely inspirational," she said. "It was amazing to see how someone who has been through so much can still have such an optimistic attitude about life."
Gay Straight Partnership president and senior Daniel Morantte asked Jones to come to UP because of the value of guest speakers.
"Students could face issues that speakers faced, and it's good to hear them talk about it," Morantte said. "(Jones speaking) also helps bring awareness to GSP. Hopefully this event will show people that we do exist."
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