An Outstanding
Retirement
Community...
There are enough things to
deal with in a marriage
without throwing in
religious differences. The
same is true of a gay
lifestyle."
The two met secretly for
months before moving in
together. Now, Bob takes
care of Mark when he wakes
up out of breath or chilled in
the middle of the night.
Bob also is a native of
Detroit. He was president of
Hillel at his university and
now serves as an- officer at a
local congregation.
Raised in a Reform home,
Bob says he met with almost
as much distress from his
parents when he told them
his future wife, whom he
married when he was 20,
was Conservative as when
he told them he was gay.
"They gave me such a
hard time about marrying
her. They said, 'What's
next? Are you going to start
wearing a kipah all the
time?'
Bob went through what he
thought was a mid-life crisis
at 35. He began to look
through issues of Cruise. He
met men through personal
Op ads, using a post office box.
Eventually he joined the
private group for gay mar-
ried men where, he says, he
met at least 25 other Jews.
"There are quite a lot of
Jewish gay men who mar-
▪
ried because that's the right
thing to do — that's what
•
nice Jewish boys are suppos-
ed to do.
"Finally, I couldn't live
like that any more. It was
too difficult.'
Bob's children know about
his sexual preference. His
•
daughter is sympathetic;
th issue is more difficult for
►
his son. Bob and his' son go
to a psychologist.
Both Bob and Mark would
like to see a gay-lesbian
▪
synagogue in the Detroit
area because that's the on-
ly place they could feel com-
fortable. In the meantime,
l.
they're active in Simcha and
■ -
several gay groups.
Mark spends most of his
•-.-
time these days working on
AIDS-related projects. He's
writing a book about his
experience.
►
He's angry that "people
are really turning their
backs to this. I know many
•
AIDS patients who literally
died by themselves with no
•
insurance to pay for
hospitalization, with no job
and consequently no money,
and with no family nearby!
When Mark dies, he will
not be alone.
Bob says he feels he was
directed by God to Mark, "to
be there for him?' He doesn't
fear for his own life because
"We practice safe sex. Other
than that, AIDS is no dif-
ferent than cancer. I won't
catch it from being in the
same environment?
Bob's life has changed in
many ways because of
Mark's illness.
"Since Mark got sick, I
don't have time to bother
with how brown the toast is
or whether the cap gets put
on the toothpaste. I mean,
who cares?
"Before, I used to get upset
about those things. Now, my
priority is Mark. He could
die tomorrow. He's all that's
important. I worry about
him, and what will happen
to me when he's gone?' U
• Spacious 1 & 2 Bedroom
Luxury Apartments
• Companionship
• Daily Activities
• Community Dining Room
• Free Transportation Service
• Gracious Surroundings
• Annual Family Picnic
• Optional Maid Service
• 3 Complete Meals. Available
• Optional Linen Service
• Air Conditioning
• Beautifully Landscaped Setting
With Sidewalks
• Storage Lockers
• Exercise & Card Rooms
'
• Rental Rates From $640
Including Utilities
• Furnished Apartments Available
For Short Term Lease
Labor-Likud -
Tir Lice Shakey
Jerusalem (JTA) — The
2-week-old truce between
Labor and Likud seemed to
be falling apart over conflic-
ting developments in the
20-month-old Palestinian
uprising.
At issue is whether Israel
should take a conciliatory
stand toward the Palesti-
nians, a position favored by
most Laborites in view of
signs that the intifada is win-
ding down. But Likud is argu-
ing that the combative resolu-
tions adopted by Yassir
Arafat's Al Fatah branch of
the Palestine Liberation
Organization at its fifth Con-
gress in Tunis last week is
sufficient reason to remain
- tough.
The opposing views were
debated at the weekly
Cabinet meeting, where the
ministers heard briefings.
Laborite Gad Ya'acobi, the
minister of communications,
contended that the weaken-
ing of the intifada strengthen-
ed the case for a political
solution.
He said the situation of-
fered a dramatic opportunity
to focus international atten-
tion on a political solution.
But Justice Minister Dan
Meridor of Likud voiced con-
cern over the Fatah resolu-
tions which the U.S. State
Department criticized as
"derogatory rhetoric."
"The Fatah resolutions
should not affect the peace
process but they should affect
those naive people in Israel
who believe that Arafat was
getting more moderate,"
Meridor said.
Likud Minister Ehud
Olmert said it was Israel's
responsibility to see to it that
the world recognizes that
Fatah's policy casts serious
doubt over the PLO's commit-
ment to peace.
• Helpful Management
& Staff
• Fully Equipped Kitchens
• Country Store
• Beauty Salon
-
• Wellness Center
• Wired For Cable . TV
• Maintenance Service
• Convenient Location
• Warm Family-Like Atmosphere
• Worship Services
• Greenhouse
• Registered Dietician
• Monitored Emergency
Call System
...With A Tradition
Of Excellence!
Franklin Club, serving our community for
over 12 years in a welcoming and
supportive atmosphere.
Come to Franklin Club and be a part of
our tradition of excellence. You owe it to
yourself.
We welcome you to compare = we offer so
much more! Call today at 353-2810 to
arrange a tour and we'll also treat you to a
complimentary lunch.
FRANKLIN
CLUB APARTMENTS
28301 Franklin Road, Southfield, Michigan 48034
(313) 353-2810
Oriental Rugs
Today's Pleasure
Tomorrow's Treasure
251 Merrill
Birmingham
(313) 644-7311
2915 Breton
Grand Rapids
(1.800-622-RUGS)
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
29