disclosure

Newcastle nestles in the Hunter Valley.
There was the brown old Hunter River, and the aqua surf around
the point at Nobbies beach.
It was October 1989.
I was back at the university which was out towards Maitland.
Today, I had no energy to ride my racing bike.
As I jumped out of the bus, students ran towards me.
Those who ran towards me cried if it were true.
"Yes" I explained "I am gay, you know that."
No. It isn't that.
One boy explained to me that a senior lecturer a few days
before told them that Andrew was very sick in hospital with
AIDS
I had told the lecturer a week before.
I needed an extension on an essay granted.
He was so emotional, that he told all his students in a lecture.
People can be foolish.
I became a diseased pariah from out of space.
I died my hair green.
I told the students that if they wanted to treat me like a
Martian, then I might as well look like one.
It was punk anyway.