How quickly we’ve morphed, since the red-ribbon orgy that was the 1993 Tony Awards telecast honoring “Angels in America,” to last night’s program—in which AIDS was never mentioned. One consolation: the long-overdue triumph of HIV-positive dance visionary Bill T. Jones, named best choreographer for “Spring Awakening,” who has fused his own journey with the virus into landmark works. In accepting his award, he made oblique, passing reference to his personal and artistic partner, Arnie Zane, who died from AIDS. But their works live on—for an audience just waiting to be awakened.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
