Inside Looking Out

JERRY EDWARD EASTBOURNE, born August 7, 1954Akron, Ohio. My poetry is largely infl uenced by my learning disability,dyslexia; therefore, making readers aware of problems I suff ered fromsecond grade into adulthood enduring endless torment and ridiculefrom kids who labeled me, retard. Other factors are: my life as a Gayman, struggles making friends, fi nding employment and housing, livingwith HIV/AIDS and the end of a 25 year relationship with my fi rst love. What I learned gave me the ability to be a volunteer and become aboard member in a HIV/AIDS organization, then president of a Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Trans/Straight group for nine (9) years; educating peoplefrom colleges, schools and PTA meetings about my life with HIV/AIDSthroughout the state of Oregon as well as the people, gay and straightalso infected and the friendships that were made and lost with theirdeaths. My own struggles of life and death because of lack of medication, severeside eff ects, Viral Load in the millions, the low to zero CD4 count I livedwith for nearly 3 years. The many optimistic infections of my fi rst 14years of the now 28 years I have lived with the disease. Nominated andwinning the Harvey Milk award, for my work to educate others aboutsexual genders and HIV/AIDs through my lectures of living with thedisease as a Gay man. Giving support for those who are friends or family of others infected. Finding Love now 14 years together, sharing our love and life