Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
In This Issue
u Crisis Corps
u Gay in Thailand
u Lesbians in the
Russian Far East?
u Return to Panama
May 2000
M
ay’s issue opens with Bob Findlay’s report on how he stays active in the
Peace Corps with short-term, Crisis Corps assignments. q Tammie Ostrom
bemoans assumptions about her love life in Thailand. q Karen Kowal asks,
“where are the lesbians in the Russian Far East.” q Kevin Webb experiences a magical
return to the village where he lived in Panama. q Feedback on a Partnership Program
project in Moldova that’s been assisted by the HIV Prevention and Education Fund.
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - May 2000
Gay in Thailand?
- by Tammie J. Ostrom, PCV
I’ve been asked what it’s like to be as my friend, and I’m certain they sift through the pile of myself and
gay in Thailand. Just this morning, don’t have a clue about our relation- share what feels natural with those I
one of my co-workers wished me to ship. care about.•
inform him, when the time came, of my P.A. has from the beginning of our
plans to marry when I return to the friendship been the most real and Tammie Ostram can be reached
States so that he can attend my natural individual to me. Often in this (infrequently) at
wedding. I’m wondering if he’d come country I feel like the privileged tammie_ostrom@hotmail.com.
to a lesbian wedding. Until recently, I foreigner (which I am) and receive
wasn’t terribly bothered by the (yes, more than enough special treatment
constant) queries regarding my love from the Thai. With P.A. it goes
status. Do you have a lover? Do you beyond all that. She has shared so
want a family? You can be his mis-
tress. Aren’t you lonely, etc.? It is a
given in Thailand that you will be “She always tells me I am the daughter she never had.
asked about your love life and given I am comfortable with her. Details of my love life have
the appropriate advice on how to
acquire a mate if you don’t yet have
never come up in full text. She has been the only Thai
one. Unfortunately, for me, the Thai friend who has never pried. But as we sat in that temple
would want that mate to be male. I’ve and she talked about Madeline, something inside of me
tried every reply to the persistent
statements/inquiries except the honest felt ashamed for not having told her before.”
one. “I don’t have the time.” “I
haven’t thought about it yet.” “ I
haven’t found the right one.” My much of herself and her family with
excuses are running thin these days. me. She always tells me I am the
My lover Madeline has been to daughter she never had. I am comfort-
PO Box 14332
Thailand three times in the year or so able with her. Details of my love life San Francisco CA 94114-4332
since my service began. On her most have never come up in full text. She lgbrpcv@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/lgbrpcv
recent visit Madeline, and P.A. my has been the only Thai friend who has
closest Thai friend, and I went to visit never pried. But as we sat in that Editor Mike Learned
Layout Kevin H. Souza
some temples nearby. The three of us temple and she talked about Madeline,
were sitting in one of the temples, something inside of me felt ashamed
although Madeline was out of earshot for not having told her before. “Thai The LGB RPCV Newsletter is
of a conversation I was having with men would love her,” kept ringing in published quarterly by the Lesbian,
P.A. She commented that Madeline my head. What I wanted to scream Gay, Bisexual RPCV Organization,
was so “riap roi” (a Thai term that’s and hear echoed throughout the an affiliate of the National Peace
used to describe someone who is temple was: “Yes, Thai men would Corps Association. We exist to
polite/appropriate). “Thai men would love her, but she’s with me and no promote Peace Corps ideals and
love her - she’s so calm and polite.” I Thai man will have her as long as I’m acceptance of gays and lesbians
turned to P.A. and said, “there’s around!!” - not exactly the serene throughout the world. Submission
something important I need to talk thoughts one should be having while of articles or graphics to be pub-
about with you, but I would like to talk sitting in a temple. lished in the newsletter is encour-
with you alone at another time.” P.A. What were those precepts again? aged. The right to use or edit
asked me if I was okay and I said I Knowing that I am only temporarily in materials remains with the editor.
was, but that it was something that I this country and that when I finish my Copyright remains with the author.
felt strongly about sharing with her service I will be returning to my Send submissions or inquires to the
when the time was right. The time is community; this has kept me from above postal or e-mail address.
right, but more than that, it is neces- sharing too much of my personal life. I
sary. I haven’t told any of my Thai am American; I am a woman; I am a
friends and colleagues about lesbian, not necessarily in that order.
Madeline. My office just refers to her This is not who/what I am all about. I
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - May 2000
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - May 2000
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - May 2000
they worked and lived with, but that tolerated. Carlos concluded that I was everyone else had left, I walked with
cultural and economic differences a good person despite this “problem.” Carlos up the path to his house one
made it difficult to relate beyond a He said I had proved my friendship last time to say goodbye. Tears
certain level. It seemed as though by standing up for his children and flowed. We hugged. There are no
Carlos and I had broken through these that he would never forget that. By words to describe the emotions I was
barriers. Or had we? I knew the real the end of the conversation we were feeling.
test would come if I told him I was gay. in tears and embraced. The story, however, does not end
I thought he probably suspected this My Peace Corps tour ended rather there. Our friendship continued.
about me, but it remained a topic we abruptly after I was assaulted in Carlos and I promised to stay in
did not discuss. another town. The attack left me with touch. I don’t believe that he thought
When I did finally tell him, my worst two fractured arms and cuts on my he would ever see or hear from me
fear was realized. Despite the bonds head. Peace Corps decided to again, but that was not to be the case.
that had been built, the cultural stigma medivac me to Washington D.C. for We’ve stayed in contact during the
was more than Carlos could handle. emergency surgery. Because I had four years since I left Panama. Last
For three months he did not speak to September I returned to Panama and
me or acknowledge my presence. I felt to the village where I lived. As I
sure that our friendship had come to
When I did finally tell walked up the path to Carlos’s house,
an end. It was one of the most painful him, my worst fear was I could hear him talking to his wife and
situations I have ever faced. Ironically, realized. Despite the children. The children saw me first.
Carlos’s children continued their daily They ran toward me, screaming my
visits. His son continued to help me bonds that had been name. Carlos was clearly pleased to
make breakfast and at night climbed up built, the cultural stigma see me, but in his best Panamanian
into my lap while I was reading to fall machismo kept his emotions in check.
asleep. I would then carry him to
was more than Carlos My short visit in the village was filled
Abuelo’s house next door and put him could handle. For three with visiting friends and family. It was
to bed. months he did not one of the most gratifying experiences
Later when Carlos was gone from of my life. I invited Carlos to come
the village for a couple of weeks speak to me or traveling with me for a week and we
working, I became aware of a family acknowledge my visited parts of his beautiful country
problem. An uncle who was staying where he had never been.
with them was mistreating Carlos’s
presence. We flew to the semi-autonomous
children. He yelled at them and hit region of San Blas controlled by the
them frequently. I was outraged and already served two years and was on Kuna Indians. We stayed on a little
knew I had to tell Carlos when he an extension, I would not be coming island at a hotel made up of individual
returned. The next week Carlos back after my recuperation. At first grass huts with sand floors. We sat on
returned. I told him that I knew he Peace Corps didn’t want me to return the beach and swam all day and ate
didn’t want to be friends anymore, but to my village before I left, but I lobster at night. On our last night in
that I loved his children very much, insisted that I must go back to say paradise, we lay in hammocks and
and I knew he would want to know goodbye and dispose of my belong- talked. Carlos told me about each of
what happened while he was away. ings. the children and what they were
Carlos was surprised. He thanked me It was late at night when I arrived doing. He then began to talk about
and walked on. in a Peace Corps vehicle with staff. I his life and how it had changed since I
The next day he appeared at my woke Carlos and his family and the had left. He said he only drank
front door and greeted me as if family I had first lived with to tell them occasionally. He had become very
nothing had ever happened. Later he of my misfortune. I was tired and in involved in the community and was
told me that he needed time to think great pain. The look of horror on their helping out at the local school, and
through what my sexual orientation faces said it all. This was not the way serving as president of one of the
meant. His religious and cultural I had fantasized saying good bye. local associations. He told me he had
upbringing had taught him that Carlos was silent the whole time and started reading more and was inter-
homosexuality was wrong. Homosexu- his eyes were the saddest I had ever
als in his culture were scorned and not seen them. The next morning after Continued on page 6
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - May 2000
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - May 2000
AIDS in Moldova
Peace Corps Volunteers Kim Pratt and Diane LaFrenierea newly created HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education Fund.
arrived in the small, former Soviet nation of Moldova ready With this support, Tineri si Liberi is well on its way to
to assist in improving the health needs of their host meet its goal of improving the health of their peers.
community. What they found were serious health problems
facing an expanding group of young community members Other Peace Corps Partnership Program AIDS
who had been excluded from traditional Moldovan society Related Projects
- those who were HIV positive, addicted to drugs, or The April 2000 Partnership Program Project Listing
members of sexual minority groups. Teaming up with their includes two new requests for AIDS education or preven-
community counterparts, the volunteers created a service tion type projects. In Burkina Faso in West Africa a
group called Tineri si Liberi (Young and Free) to meet the volunteer is seeking a small amount of funding ($250) to
health needs of the under-served youth in their community. help a local theatre group continue its education of
The project grew from the efforts of Moldovan students villagers in the rural northwest of the country. The Kassan
who had banded together in 1997 to educate their peers Clinic’s regional health education program has been greatly
about sexuality and HIV/AIDS prevention. They quickly enhanced by the performances of the Sinisiggi “Prepare
realized the need to expand their efforts and to train more Yourself for a Better Tomorrow” theatre group. (Project
peer educators to reach youth in rural areas. With the help Number: 686-058)
of their new Peace Corps Volunteer counterparts, the group In Galati, Romania a volunteer is looking for funding
formed a plan to establish an education and training (about $5000) to help improve the quality of life for children
resource center, where they can hold health education with AIDS. The Romania HIV/AIDS Education and
sessions, discussion groups, and peer education training. Prevention Program will help dispel the myths and fears
The group pulled together the community’s resources and associated with the disease. The project will provide AIDS
motivation, but still needed $3,175 to complete the center. education for students, educators, and “at risk” groups.
So volunteers Pratt and LaFrenierea looked to the Peace Support is needed for training materials, transportation and
Corps Partnership Program for assistance. Through this supplies. (Project Number: 403-020)
program, individuals in the US private sector can help carry Call the Partnership Program in Washington D.C. for
out their work to improve the health of Moldovan youth. more information on projects and how to make a contribu-
RPCVs in the U.S. stepped up to the plate and have already tion (800-424-8580 extension 2170) or see their Web page at
donated the need funds through the Partnership Program’s www.peacecorps.gov/contribute/partnership.html•
a member of the National Peace renew your dues when they contact you (this could be any month of
Corps Association (NPCA) the year) and be sure to designate LGB RPCVs as your affiliate
group. We will receive $15 of your $40 membership fee.
not a member of the NPCA and renew your dues now with LGB RPCVs for $15. You can use the
you haven’t paid $15 to LGB membership renewal coupon on page 8 of this issue of the newsletter.
RPCV yet this year
a current Peace Corps volunteer you receive the newsletter free of charge. If you’re unable to pay the
or unable to pay the $15 mem- fee (not a current volunteer), let us know so that we keep you on our
bership fee mailing list.
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - May 2000
What do we do?
u Provide support to our national members and current volunteers.
u Facilitate the creation of regional chapters.
u Actively involve ourselves as an affiliate of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA).
u Promote policies and projects that support Peace Corps ideals and the acceptance and active
involvement of lesbians, gays and bisexuals within the Peace Corps.
u Take an active part in Gay Pride events around the country encouraging gays, lesbians and bisexu-
als to consider the Peace Corps experience.
u Offer our members as informational resources and mentors for lesbians, gays and bisexuals who
have been offered a Peace Corps assignment.
u Host social events for our members.
u Communicate regularly with our members and others through a quarterly newsletter and our web site.
Phone/Fax/E-mail:
Membership: $15 for LGB RPCV Affiliate Only or FREE to Current Volunteers
$40 for LGB RPCV Plus the National Peace Corps Association