Inside Looking Out

JERRY EDWARD EASTBOURNE, born August 7, 1954
Akron, Ohio. My poetry is largely infl uenced by my learning disability,
dyslexia; therefore, making readers aware of problems I suff ered from
second grade into adulthood enduring endless torment and ridicule
from kids who labeled me, retard. Other factors are: my life as a Gay
man, struggles making friends, fi nding employment and housing, living
with 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 a
board member in a HIV/AIDS organization, then president of a Gay/
Lesbian/Bi/Trans/Straight group for nine (9) years; educating people
from colleges, schools and PTA meetings about my life with HIV/AIDS
throughout the state of Oregon as well as the people, gay and straight
also infected and the friendships that were made and lost with their
deaths.
My own struggles of life and death because of lack of medication, severe
side eff ects, Viral Load in the millions, the low to zero CD4 count I lived
with for nearly 3 years. The many optimistic infections of my fi rst 14
years of the now 28 years I have lived with the disease. Nominated and
winning the Harvey Milk award, for my work to educate others about
sexual genders and HIV/AIDs through my lectures of living with the
disease 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