On April 28, several area restaurants are participating in “Dining Out for Life”. Visit Baba Louie’s, Ca’Mea Ristorante, Helsinki Hudson, Mexican Radio or Red Dot and 25% (or more) of the price of lunch and dinner will be donated to the Alliance for Positive Health. Funds provide direct services to people living with HIV/AIDS and their family members. Included are care management and prevention programs that offer effective, innovative solutions that make a significant impact on reducing new HIV infections.
Two days later, an appearance by co-authors Samuel G. Freedman and Kerry Donahue will focus on the life of journalist Jeff Schmalz. The book, Dying Words – The Aids Reporting of Jeff Schmalz and How It Transformed The New York Times, includes interviews with major journalists including Anna Quindlen, Adam Moss and Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. It also features the words of Larry Kramer, Magic Johnson, Randy Shilts and Bill Clinton.
A fast-tracked gay writer at The New York Times, Schmalz was “outed” when he collapsed from a brain seizure in the newsroom. This incident was how he became aware that he was infected with HIV. It was also the beginning of his campaign to report openly about the disease that was killing him – and countless others. At a time when the newspaper of record chose not to acknowledge the epidemic, Schmalz spent his remaining professional life interviewing others stricken with the disease as well as those who worked to find its cause and create a cure.
Named by Capitol Hill staffers as the brainiest, funniest and most eloquent member of the House, former Congressmember Barney Frank said:
“[This book] is an important part of the story of the fight for LGBT equality in America that will come as a surprise even to many well-informed readers.”
The authors appearance and book signing takes place at 4PM on Saturday, April 30 in the Hudson Area Library Community Room, 51 North 5th Street, Hudson. This is a FREE event – co-sponsored by the Alliance for Positive Health.