For one man, although conditions are horrific in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, things could be even worse.
That was the message from Doug Minich, president of the New Orleans-based Cavaliers Motorcycle Club, an LGBT organization. In a follow-up to an e-mail he sent to Windy City Times, Minich spoke on Friday—and said that the situation had improved somewhat for him and his partner, Mike.
When asked what has been the most frustrating part of living through the crisis, Minich hesitated before responding. 'What's most frustrating is not being able to see my home,' he said. 'I want to get extra clothes and to just see my place. Unfortunately, I've been told that it's going to be 60 to 90 days before I can see it.'
Minich commented that other facets of uncertainty bothered him. 'It's very frustrating not knowing about your family and friends,' he said before adding that friends of club members are still not accounted for. He also was perplexed by the government's delay in assisting: 'They can figure out who's to blame later. Just fix my city.' He urged people to donate to agencies such as the Rainbow World Fund and American Red Cross, even though he is aware of the latter's anti-gay blood donor policy; he stressed that now, everyone must come together.
Fortunately for Minich, he did not end up being stranded in New Orleans. ' [ Mike ] and I went to his parents' home in Lafayette; we left the day before the storm,' he said. 'Usually it takes about two hours to get there, but [ because of the mass evacuation ] it took about seven and a half hours.'
Regarding their current living conditions, things are bit removed from what they are used to. The couple will be living in a campground in the city of Hammond for the next couple of months.
However, in the midst of the morass, Minich sees reasons for hope—if for no other reason than the support he has received from everyday people. 'It's just so amazing. I've gotten so many e-mails from around the world; people are sending their thoughts, support and prayers,' he said. 'However, I would like for people to continue keeping us in their thoughts.' He also asked that people say a special prayer for two missing friends, Lance and Carl Ford.
Minich becomes even more sanguine when discussing New Orleans's future. 'I have a positive attitude and I know that we will rebuild this city,' he stated. 'New Orleans will be better than ever.'
Other Katrina-related news:
— Although Houston's Montrose Clinic has been garnering plenty of attention, donors might want to also consider giving to Montrose Counseling Center, a separate facility that works closely with the clinic. The LGBT center provides physical and mental healthcare to all individuals, including those who are HIV-positive. People may submit checks—made payable to Montrose Counseling Center with 'Katrina' listed in the memo field—to Montrose Counseling Center, 701 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Tex., 77006. The center's phone number is ( 713 ) 529-0037, ext. 352. Sally A. Huffer, a former Chicagoan, is the agency's Community Projects Specialist. She stated: 'Our Gay & Lesbian Switchboard Houston has created a 'safe homes' database for compassionate people around the country who are willing to open their homes to our GLBT neighbors from Hurricane ravaged Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. We are 200 homes and adding more every day. We've already been able to place persons into some homes, and are thrilled that the response has been overwhelming. We even have received a number of offers from the Chicago area. One may sign up or access this program through Gay & Lesbian Switchboard ( 713 ) 529-3211.
— Drs. Leigh Roberts and Roger Trinh of Howard Brown Health Center ( HBHC ) have returned home and are telling the tales of their trying times in New Orleans. According to an HBHC statement, the physicians were stranded in the city while attending a medical conference. 'We were wheeling patients around in the laundry carts from the hotel,' an emotional Roberts said at an all-staff meeting at the center. 'An experience like this makes you realize what's really important, and makes you dig down deep inside yourself to find something that you never knew was there. It's very frightening to think no one may be coming for you.'
— The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is providing online resources for the hurricane survivors. Users can log on to www.thetaskforce.org/katrinaaid to learn how to donate as well as to find out how relief efforts ( such as the NAACP and Houston's Montrose Clinic ) are directing the funds.
— Internet sites claiming to be charities related to Hurricane Katrina have been popping up faster than the FBI can look at them—and many appear to be fraudulent. According to the Associated Press, The American Red Cross, whose Web site is one of the most imitated, is working with the FBI to try to identify bogus sites.
— The Sparkplug Foundation also has a list of organizations ( e.g., AIDS Alliance, The Justice Center and the Louisiana Domestic Violence Victim's Hurricane Relief Fund ) that are aiming to help survivors. See www.sparkplugfoundation.org/katrinarelief.html .
— Forty-eight hours after suspending a Paypal account setup to collect donations for colleagues impacted by Hurricane Katrina, Paypal has backed down from its decision to suspend fundraising by the web site Cruising for Sex, according to a news release connected with the site. Cruising for Sex is partly based out of New Orleans and suffered damage during Katrina. As of Sept. 8, the account was restored.
— Among the many local benefits is one being held on Sept. 17, at Pop's Sports Pub, 803 Nerge Rd., Roselle, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The rock band Barely Standing, a member of Outmusic and a participant in the Chicago Pride Parade, will perform. Admission is $5.
— Under One Roof, a San Francisco-based agency that generates funding for AIDS service organizations, announced the formation of 'The Above and Beyond Fund' to assist HIV/AIDS service groups in Louisiana and Mississippi. For more info, call ( 415 ) 503-2303.
— Chicago City College students protested what they called racism and negligence in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort on Sept. 7 in front of Harold Washington College. They were joined by the Campus Antiwar Network.
— Representatives from the New Orleans Mayor's Office and the Houston Gay & Lesbian Center have partnered to launch a campaign to raise disaster relief funds set aside for LGBT residents of the greater New Orleans area. Coors Brewing Company has donated $10,000 in seed money. Concerned citizens can donate to the fund by credit card at www.pridehouston.org or by mailing checks to Pride Houston Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, P.O. Box 66071, Houston, Tex., 77266.
