December: HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, by Linda Baker

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why is that older, straight woman in SFR?” I’ll tell you. 

I met my first known “homosexuals” in 1968 during my nursing school psychiatric rotation (I probably had crushes on gay boys in high school, but no one was out then - and it certainly was not talked about). Back then, “homosexuality,” as it was still called, was listed as a mental illness.

I spent hours in occupational therapy with these smart, funny and creative young men who were my age and seemed perfectly healthy. This was the beginning of my journey in understanding what  “homosexuality” is and what was supposedly “wrong” with it.

Or rather, the beginning of my realization that the only thing “wrong” was what religion and societies believed and taught.

Over the years, I have volunteered for several organizations in the community, including those that support the LGBTQIA+ community. (I want to add that my husband, Tom, has supported me through all these endeavors and is also an advocate for LGBTQIA+ equality.) In the mid-nineties, while I was raising two kids and teaching hypnotherapy classes, AIDS was peaking. By “chance” someone gave me a video about a woman, Louise L Hay, who held the “Hay Ride” each week in San Francisco, helping people live better lives, despite their HIV/AIDS diagnoses. I remember crying my way through that video. Afterward, I flew to California to study with her, and upon returning to Seattle, began a group based on her principles. 10 to 15 members came weekly for more than six years. 

Arguably, the most important part of the group was the Reiki, a hands-on form of energy healing. For many in the group, this was the first time they experienced touch since becoming HIV+. (At the time, those with HIV/AIDS were still shunned; people were afraid to get close or even touch them.) We shared lots of tears and love; that group reminded us of the importance of acceptance and strong friendships. 

December is HIV/AIDS awareness month, so it seems appropriate to share this part of my story now. I hope you have been able to join me in remembering those who have passed on and in celebrating the many advances society has made in treating HIV/AIDS.

It was after my work with the HIV/AIDS group that I discovered Seattle Frontrunners (SFR). While on a middle school PFLAG panel, I met a member of SFR. He invited me to a Saturday run and ran Green Lake with me. When I returned the following Saturday, everyone was hugging and laughing. I felt so out of place; SFR felt like a community that I didn’t belong to. I almost didn’t come back. (This is why I always tell new people to come back, even if you don’t know anyone or fear you won’t belong. You will. Sometimes, good things take time.) I soon discovered that I loved SFR because it is such a health-minded organization and wonderful place to meet and share our love of running and walking, and to socialize and support each other. Then, at the encouragement of my friend, I joined the Board (about 15 years ago).

When I first joined SFR, the club was a lot smaller and overwhelmingly gay men. (I was actually the 200th member!.) Today we are 520+ members and more diverse. Saturday runs/walks used to be the main weekly event; the Wednesday run was tiny. Very few people even knew about the track workouts (led by our incredible coach, Len, with whom I served on the board). Today, all our runs/walks are well-attended. Over the summer, the Wednesday run/walk was often larger than Saturday, something I never could have imagined years ago. 

In the past, 50 potluck attendees was huge. Now, we often have 80+. In fact, our holiday party had more than 120 attendees.

The Board has also evolved over the years; we have many new faces and new ideas. We are growing, and like anyone or anything experiencing growth, we have to make adjustments and figure some things out.

Despite our growth and evolution, I love the feeling of family and community that have remained the same all these years. Whenever I look around Shelter and see the serious conversations, light laughter, and smiling faces, I have such a deep and warm feeling in my heart - one of love and joy - and that feeling is what makes me happy and proud to be a part of SFR.

As I said earlier about the HIV/AIDS group, acceptance and strong friendships matter. This is true of SFR and is part of what makes it very special.

Linda Baker

She/Her