820 San Pedro 210-226-2620 TEXAS SIZE San Antonio Come Celebrate SUNDAYS 414 W. Laurel ON THE HOTTEST the "Wildest" Halloween 210-228-WEST NEW PATIO IN TOWN! on the "Wildest" Corner DRAFT inTown- San Pedro &W.Laurel BLAST SSCOSTUIE COITESTSS 4-8 PMwith $2 Buy-In Following Coming Sunday F November 7th The Wild &Wicked TGRA Sunday Show POST-RODEO PARTY An Official Sponsor Barp Victoria West, Aaron Davis, Shawna Brooks, For the 10th Annual - Amber Nixx and Wilda Wilde Texas Gay Rodeo November 5-7 414 W. Laurel rc. 210-228-WEST rc. WD1' -SAH1rJ!!NIO- San Antonio - SAN ANTONIO - VOLUME 19, NUMBER 33 OCTOBER 22 - OCTOBER 28,1993 14 MEDICAL U POATE Staying Out of the Hospital with HIV by Patrick J. McNamara, M.D. 18 M IN 0 & BODY Denial Is a Powerful Obstacle to Leaving the Closet by Sharon Stone 20 MEDIA GLAAD Tidings: Playboy Gives Larry Kramer a Forum by Tom Trela 25 MOVIES Jeroen Krabbe in For A Lost Soldier Reviewed by Jeff Mackey 32 SPECIAL REPORT AFH Hopes for Big Turnout with This Year's "From All Walks of Life" 38 COVER FEATURE Joseph Hart of Houston photos by Jeffery 49 CURRENT EVENTS 55 LETTERSTO THE EDITOR 61 BACKSTAGE Dallas Theatre Center Opens New Season with SixDegrees of Separation 65 TRIVIA 69 STARSCOPE Intellectual Mercury Squares off with Hard-Working Saturn 74 SPORTS Photo Coverage of the Team Dallas Sports and Cultural Festival 76 TEXAS NEWS Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby Picks New Executive Director 80 TEXAS TEA IGRA Rodeo Finals in Fort Worth 89 CLASSIFIED 98 OBITUARIES 101 GUIDE TWT(ThisWeek in Texas)is published by Texes WeE:lklyTimesNewspaper Co ..at 3300 Reagan Street in Dallas. Texes 75219end 811Wasthelmer in Houston Texes 77(X)6.Opinions expressed by ccemrets are not necesscrity those of TWTOf of its staff. Publicotlonof the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertiSing in TWTisnot to be construed as any Indication of the sexual orientation of said person or organization. Slbscription rates: $69 per year, $40 per half year. Back issues available at 52 each. Payment must accompany all orders. Copyright © 1993 by Texes Weekly Times Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Partiol or coroete reproduction of orw advertisement, news, article or feature, copy or photograph fran TWTis specifically prohibited by federal statute. THIS \NEEK IN TEXAS MAGAZINE Texas' Leading Gay 8<Lesbian Publication Since 1975. Weekly Circulation: 20,000 I PUBLISHER i DALLAS OFFICE ALAN GELLMAN HOUSTON OFFICE 3300 Reagan Street EDITOR 811Westheimer. Suite 106 Dallas. Texas 75219 RICHARD HEBERT Houston. Texas 77006 Houston Fax (713)527-TWIT Dallas Fax (214)520-TWIT COMPTROLLER (214) 521·0622 STEVEMILES (713) 527·9111 ARTDIRECTORRichard Bong • GRAPHIC ARTISTSSteve Pardue. Chris Patterson ASSISTANTEDITORBob Dineen • SPORTSEDITORBobby Miller CONTRIBUTINGWRITERSHugh Callaway. Nancy Ford. Lydia Godfrey. PhilJohnson, Jeff Mackey. Dan Medina STAFFPHOTOGRAPHERSMike Beck. Cory Birdwell. Graham. Rex Martin, Shawn Northcutt NATIONAL SALESDIRECTOR. Steve Miles· (214) 521·0622 • FAX 52()'TWIT Adverllslng rates are available on request Irom the salesperson In your nearest city. Austin - Rex Marlin (512) 443-7568 • Dallas/Fori Worlh - Steve Miles (214) 521·0622 Houston/Galveston - Steve Nally (713) 527·9111 • San Antonio - Paul Briner (210) 614-1348 CLASSIFIEDADVERTISING· Dallas Bob Dineen • Houston 8rlan Keever TWT© 1993 Texas Weekly Times Newspaper Company SHANERUFFP. RESIDENT/ CEO / DIRECTOR ROy KLAUS/ CO-DIRECTOR Represented Nationally by Rlvendell Marketing, Inc. ..........:..;.: - . -··~Fl\Ns, .~ , SATURDAY,OCTOBER 30 ((Ai .~ LEATHER NIGHT AND ~W COSTUME CONTEST 651 S.Jennings CASH PRIZES. Fort Worth COSTUMES & LEATHER ENCOURAGED (817)332·0745 BY PATRICK McNAMARA, M.D. HIV.StaYing Out of the Hospital ost of my patients with HIV infection seen is pneumocystis pneumonia. This M feel well and have busy professional preventable pneumonia is commonly seen and social lives. I work hard with each of in individuals who have not been under them to allow them to continue these pur- medical care. As the virus continues to suits. The natural progression of HIV dis- multiply and Tcell counts drop below 100, ease can be altered. We can prevent many fungal infections, cytomegalovirus infec- illnesses effectively, treat many others and tions, mycobacterium avium intracellulare much of the time avoid hospitalization. infections and lymphoma are frequently Although I oversee the care of hundreds seen. Candida (yeast) infections, herpes of patients with HIV infection, very few are zoster (shingles) and Kaposi's sarcoma in the hospital at any given time. can occur at virtually any point in a patient The best way to stay healthy is to be- with HIV infection. come an active participant in one's care. It is important to note that any single in- This starts with getting tested. By know- dividual with HIV may have different man- ing your HIV status, you can actively main- ifestations of their illness. One of the most tain a negative status by getting educated important exceptions to be aware of is that about, and practicing, safer sex, or if you're some individuals can develop severe im- positive, seeking medical attention and mune depletion (T cell counts of less than learning how to manage the illness. The 50) and have virtually no symptoms. Just point is that everyone needs to learn about because you feel well and look great does HIV infection in order to maintain their not mean that you do not have a very health. serious medical problem. Even if one has Untreated HIV disease has a fairly pre- tested negative for HIV in the past, if one dictable pattern. There is a period without were to develop painful clusters of small symptoms, usually lasting years, in which blisters (shingles) or a coating on the the virus is multiplying and whittling away tongue or roof of the mouth (candida), he at the immune system. Over this period of or she should get tested again. These are time, the T cell count, which is a marker frequently the earliest symptoms of HIV of immune system function, usually falls disease and need to be followed up. Sex- from over 1,000 to approximately 400-500. ually active individuals should be tested Although most individuals will not have for antibodies to HIV on a regular basis any symptoms with T cell counts between even when practicing safer sex. 300 and 500, some will experience weight Since most individuals with HIV feel loss, low-grade fever, diarrhea or enlarged well, it is common to put off routine office lymph nodes. Once the T cell count drops visits. These visits are extremely important below 300 in the untreated individual, the because they allow the physician to detect most common serious infection which is subtle changes that may require interven- PAGE 14 TWT OCTOBER 22 - OCTOBER 28 1993 tion. Weight loss and fever are very com- poor appetite may be subtle indications of mon findings that patients were frequently an underlying infection. It is easierto treat not aware of. Routine vaccinations are also an infection in its early stages, so these given during these visits. symptoms can be very important. The office visit ought to be an opportu- Most symptoms can be evaluated quite nity for the patient to ask questions. Treat- thoroughly in your physician's office, start- ment options, new developments and pre- ing with a physical exam. Common lab- ventative care should be discussed. Since oratory parameters that are checked are most patients are taking medications, the blood counts, blood tests of liver and optimal method of taking these medicines kidney function, amylase levels and Tcell to maximize effectiveness and minimize (more accurately called CD4) counts. It is side effects should be discussed. For ex- very important that CD4 counts be deter- ample, Videx [ddl] should always be taken mined on a regular basis. CD4counts help on an empty stomach either one hour guide your physician in diagnosing various before or two hours after a meal. Doing so infections as well as determining your re- will help ensure that more drug is ab- sponse to anti-HIV therapy. Depending on sorbed and its effectiveness enhanced. specific sym ptoms, X-rays of the chest or Since many patients are taking multiple sinuses may be done, cultures performed drugs, drug interactions should be dis- and therapies instituted. The majority of cussed. A very common prescription anti- the time, a diagnosis can be made, and histamine, Seldane, can interact adversely therapy successfully completed, outside with such drugs as erythromycin, Biaxin, the hospital. Nizoral and Diflucan. Videx should not be Who might .require hospitalization? taken at the same time as Nizoral, because Usually, individuals with HIV are hospital- it decreases the absorption of Nizoral. The ized for one of two reasons. One common more you ask and learn, the better off you reason for hospitalization is to perform will be. diagnostic ortherapeutic procedures that Most patients with HIV infection are tak- are too complicated or difficult to perform ing medication. Why? Because medica- on an outpatient basis. Examples might be tions have been demonstrated to slow the evaluation for a fever of undetermined progression of immune depletion, and origin, or removal of a spleen because of lessen the incidence of infections. It is a low platelet count. Another reason for much easier to comply with a medical hospitalization is life-threatening infection regimen if you have a firm understanding or severe abdominal pain. Despite appro- of what benefits you derive from it. Your priate outpatient treatment, some infec- physician should explain clearly why you tions do continue to progress. This is are taking a particular medication and usually seen in individuals with severe im- what the possible side effects are. mune depletion. Common causes of se- I need to point out a few generalizations vere abdominal pain in patients with HIV about medications.