Cary Stegall

Background: Cary is a 26 year old white gay man who grew up in Forth Worth, Texas. His family went to church a bit, but it was never a big part of his life. He was an academic overachiever, and was heavily involved in music in high school (piano, orchestra, choir). He came out in high school, and his family begrudgingly accepted it. He went to Texas A&M on a scholarship thinking he wanted to be an engineering student, but quickly switched to anthropology. He had a small group of friends (the weird crowd on a conservative campus), and he helped start a gay and lesbian organization on campus. Cary wanted to get into the music business (and leave Texas), so he went to get his MBA at Indiana University, one of the highest-rated public business schools. He then moved to New York in 1987 and started working at Columbia House as an assistant. By 1989, he was working at CBS Records as associate director of sales analysis. Cary lives at 690 Leonard Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Cary read about ACT UP in the Village Voice and came to a meeting by himself in 1987 or 1988. He got more and more involved, starting with the Issues Committee at first. At the FDA action, he illicitly sold dextran sulfate imported from Japan (which has showed promise as an AIDS treatment, and which is sold over the counter in Japan, but the FDA had not devoted resources to studying).

Role in ACT UP: Cary is one of the At-Large Representatives on the Coordinating Committee. He is also on the Montreal Ad Hoc Committee (the committee preparing ACT UP/New York’s actions at the upcoming major 1989 International Conference on AIDS in June)

Groups/friends at the meeting: Coordinating Committee; Montreal Ad Hoc Committee

Specific tasks at the March 13, 1989 meeting: Cary is on the agenda to ask the Floor for funds for three people (himself, John Bohne, and Blane Mosley) to attend the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Health Conference from April 5th to 7th. ACT UP/San Francisco will house them. The Coordinating Committee has recommended approval, with an agreed expenditure of $864 for three people. Cary will also ask if there is a woman who would attend, which would raise the cost to $1,397. Cary will give some background on the importance of sending representatives to the conference (the conference is in its 11th year and will feature a lot about AIDS and lesbian/gay health issues; it will be a good opportunity to dispense literature and t-shirts, and to meet with doctors, social workers, and government officials). Cary will acknowledge that some people have questioned whether this is a good use of ACT UP's money, and will ask the Floor to discuss this. Then the Floor will vote on the proposal.

Cary will also, on behalf of the Montreal Ad Hoc Committee, propose a fundraiser at the Tunnel later in the meeting. There will also be a vote on this.