Help Save a Cherished Home of 45 Years

Dear Family, Friends, Clients, and Strangers,

I am usually not one to ask for help as I am self-reliant when it comes to managing and solving problems.

I have fought HIV and won, fought lymphoma and won, and am winning a battle against atrial fibrillation from damage to my heart from the chemo treatment for my cancer.

This time it is a very different battle and I am reaching out to you to help me with the real threat of losing my home of 45 years. I have watched the trees I planted grow large and lush, I endured the loss of my cherished partner Scott Douglas who died here of AIDS in 1995, raised beloved cats and dogs over the years, and recently updated the kitchen and other infrastructure to make it a secure and comfortable home for the rest of my life.

I am facing a difficult financial deadline of Nov. 1 to come up with $60,000 as part of my very painful divorce settlement. If I don’t meet the terms, I’ll have to sell my home, which considering the state of my health and the current real estate market is something I can’t begin to fathom or accept.

I am not trying to raise the entire $60,000 for the settlement by asking for help, but to either reduce the amount of money I have to borrow or defray some of my mounting legal bills.

I am doing everything I can to earn more money as I am on Social Security. I work part-time at the YMCA as a fitness coach, I have a home-based photography printing business, and I am selling many of my possessions.

As an incentive for your contributions of $250 or more, I will give you a 16x20 black museum framed print from a collection of images on my website.

Please, I need your help now more than ever to make this happen and move forward and know that I will not be forced to sell my home.

A thousand thanks to those of you who can help out in any amount.