I'm Riding to End AIDS

From June 6-12, 2010, I'm bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It's a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.

Help me support the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center by giving what you can. We'll keep riding until AIDS and HIV are a thing of the past.

My ride is dedicated to my late Uncle Fred who I lost to this disease. He introduced me to a magical world of dance and music which shaped my life. I am grateful to have known him and have had him in my life for sixteen years. 

My Uncle Fred was a wonderful man. A composer, musician and loving being. He was closeted to his family and my Grandpa tried to set him up with women every time Fred came to visit. Fred had a partner who passed away in the early 80's when AIDS was still called GRIDS. My Grandma was always accepting of Fred and asked him how he was and if he was healthy. Fred would say yes not to worry her but I think he knew he was infected and couldn't share his fate with her. 

When I was thirteen and had my Bat Miztvah where I saw Fred for the first time in a long time. I knew then that he was gay and that he had AIDS. No one ever told me but I instinctively knew.Of corse as a dancer I was brought up with gay men so I figured it out pretty quick.  It was about the time I got interested in the world around me, human rights issues and AIDS. I was doing a lot of reading about AIDS and educating myself so I had a feeling he had it but never talked to anyone about it.

 Going through my teen years was rough like everyone else. Yet there was something different and harder to deal with, my own sexuality. I knew I was a lesbian at twelve but tortured my self internally and would not come out, especial not to my self.

When I was sixteen my Uncle Fred got sick and after a summer of serious illness he passed away. I feel like he gave up. The hospital treated him poorly, like he had the plague and his spirit was broken. I also feel like he couldn't live knowing everyone knew he had this disease. Sadly when he passed, my Grandfather's side of the family would never say he died having AIDS or that he was gay. To them and everyone they talked to he died of pneumonia.

I realized as an adult that I had one person in my life that I could have talked to and been my self with and I never had the courage. I had a built in support team and I lost him before I realized he was there for me. I can not change my story, my struggle and my Uncle Fred's life but I can help end this disease. I can give the youth a safe place to live, to come out and be who they are and be accepted. 

For my Uncle Fred I will ride 545 miles and help end AIDS!

Please Sponsor me by donating to this amazing fight to end AIDS! Join me on my journey by being a sponsor!