-
Jeff Yablan
- Male
- Los Angeles, CA
- United States
- Share
- Latest Blogavism (1)
- Events
- Groups
- Photos
- Photo Albums
- Videos
Jeff Yablan's Page
Gifts Received (2)
Red Ribbon
From Paul F. Cogan
Pink Ribbon
From Paul F. Cogan
Latest Activity
From the Gift Store
Perhaps it does, but I think back to when Iran's leader came to the U.S. and spoke at a university. It generated mostly laughter and derision from the attendees. I hope that by opening the curtain and showing these people to university students will…
From the Gift Store
I have been an advocate for the medical use of marijuana ever since 1996. I have seen numerous instances, not only in myself, but in others, where marijuana has made all the difference in their health. And for the serious illnesses, most people agre…
Why does it have to wait until early next year to take effect?
Profile Information
- Who are you? (Creative answers encouraged!)
- I am an activist and artist in Silverlake. I co-founded the first medical marijuana cooperative in Los Angeles, and currently direct local actions.
I just returned to Silverlake after a year in Palm Springs, where I worked with AIDS and cancer patients.
Thirteen years ago tonight (Nov. 6, 1996) I made the call.
"Mom, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that I have AIDS. The good news is that I'm gonna be on television!"
Well, those weren't my exact words, but that is how it felt.
In early 1996 I joined the Los Angeles Cannabis Buyers' Club, which provided medical marijuana for AIDS patients. It was a small rag-tag group of patients who came down from S.F. to advocate for Prop. 215. Within a short time I was passing out leaflets at street fairs and festivals, and a few months later I volunteered to check ID's and discuss Prop. 215 with the Club's patients.
On election night 50 news personnel converged on our Club in the heart of West Hollywood, California. ABC television came in the day before to install their own phone line. All the networks and local stations had a camera, as well as print and wire reporters from a variety of hosts.
They were hungry for something to film. We had two little plants there, so they filmed that for a few minutes. One was named Mary. The other Jane.
I was asked to make a "buy" of marijuana. I would fill out a form, and they would give me marijuana, and the press would only film the "hands." That part worked fine, but when I stepped away from the counter I suddenly found half a dozen video cameras, reporters, and microphones staring at me. As the questions came my experience advocating and speaking about medical marijuana took over. Those of you with similar experiences know that once sort of enters an alternate mind-set where you have quicker and sharper access to words and phrases.
I was pleased with my ability to respond more quickly and coherently than I had previously thought I would in such a situation. While I pondered that for about two minutes I was pulled away to be interviewed by someone from Reuters. Then someone ran up in from outside yelling that the police were busting someone right then downstairs for medical marijuana. Wow, the stampede of press out the doors woulda knocked off Ru Paul's wig!
It was just one of our club workers being given a ticket for a joint, but it got a lot of police attention.
Coming back in I was grabbed for an interview by Nightline (which never aired). It was after that interview that I realized that my parents, who did not know that I tested HIV+ in 1991, might see one of the interviews. So I made the call.
I have been an advocate for the medical use of marijuana ever since.
- Activism & Interests?
- photography, activism (AIDS and medical marijuana)
Jeff Yablan's Blog
13 (Lucky?) Years
I have been an advocate for the medical use of marijuana ever since 1996. I have seen numerous instances, not only in myself, but in others, where marijuana has made all the difference in their health. And for the serious illnesses, most people agree.
Now here we are, 13 years later, and do we really have the safe and affordable access we wanted?
Many do, but unfortunately, many do not. There are a great many AIDS and other patients who can not afford all the expenses that are required for hea… Continue
Now here we are, 13 years later, and do we really have the safe and affordable access we wanted?
Many do, but unfortunately, many do not. There are a great many AIDS and other patients who can not afford all the expenses that are required for hea… Continue
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 11:48pm —
Comment Wall (4 comments)
- At 10:04am on December 19, 2009,
Paul F. Cogan said… - Paul invited you to "Love Takes Over" on Sunday, January 3 at 12:00am.
Event: Love Takes Over
"One week. One unified voice. Let's take over America's local newspapers. "
What: Class
Start Time: Sunday, January 3 at 12:00am
End Time: Saturday, January 9 at 11:55pm
Where: Everywhere
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=329448590227&mid=194a925G606886f7Ge28d7bG7
- At 10:40pm on December 12, 2009,
Paul F. Cogan said…
- Blogs and blogging have made a tremendous impact within the gay movement. Through our use of blogs such as Queer Today I would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who has joined me in blogging on Queer Today and I hope collectively we will continue to help to make future significant contributions to the movement.
As has become clear over the past few years, blogs such as ours provide journalists and activists like us an opportunity to effectively report on issues that mainstream and print media do not cover. Our online commentary not only raises awareness and visibility to issues important to the movement but also allows us to force a more nuanced and deeper reporting on these often complex and difficult issues.
For all of our brothers and sisters who rarely see themselves represented in the media or who live in places without a strong gay movement, our blog creates a deeply needed sense of community for them. Our blog functions as a modern day town crier, bringing all of us together regardless of where we live or who we know, to share information and knowledge about our movement. Our blog provides a forum where we can report, debate, consider and call our movement into action.
The information imparted over our blog - both with the citizen journalists writing about issues important to the movement and bloggers like each of you whose comments add texture to the stories – will engender ability for online organizing and activism like no other media supporting the movement.
Our blog can deliver news to thousands of gay people as that news is unfolding, engaging them as participants in our movement instead of passive readers. Often our blog is where news about the movement begins.
So, the next time you are at your computer, click on the book marked button for Queer Today. Come into the blog and see the latest news of the movement and add your voice with a blog entry in support of the gay movement.
PAUL
- At 12:24pm on December 05, 2009, Paul F. Cogan gave Jeff Yablan a gift…
- From the Gift Store
- At 12:14pm on November 24, 2009, Paul F. Cogan gave Jeff Yablan a gift…
- From the Gift Store
© 2009 Created by QueerToday
