A couple of of times a year I volunteer with a Phoenix, Arizona non-profit called Body Positive. The purpose of this organization is to support AIDS/HIV research and provide services to those affected by the disease.

From the outside looking in, this agency appears to have many affluent donors, manyh of whom lead alternative lifestyles. It’s been a long time since AIDS/HIV was considered a gay disease. However, many members of the gay community support the work of this agency.

Body Positive hosts many events throughout the year in the attempt to raise funds for AIDS/HIV research, clinical medicine trials and various services. Some of the events include a day of beauty at Rolk’s Salon, an upscale home tour and an annual fundraising gala with a silent auction.

For the last four years I have participated in the Body Positive Home Tour of Life. Essentially, the agency development director recruits various affluent residents who are willing to allow a parade of complete stranges to enter their home for six hours in order to view the lush landscapes and high-end interior design of their homes. Usually ten to twelve homes are arranged for the tour. Tickets are sold for $100 a piece with all proceeds going to fund Body Positive programs.

Every year the homes on the tour run the gamut from traditional to eclectic. One house had a shrine dedicated to Kachina dolls while another had a water fountain spraying from the rook into the pool off the side of a mountain.

The one home where I was stationed had belonged to one of the original American Airline stewardesses. Her route took her from Los Angeles to Japan and as a result, her house had heavy Asian influences in the decor.

I was stations at the door to greet the guests. Most of the guests were also middle to upper class business people and entrepreneurs. There were many designers and architects visiting the homes. During the day, a young African American man dressed in all black greeted me at the door. During the training we were advised to look for the proof of ticket purchase but not to actually ask for it. I didn’t see the ticket on this young man and as with other guests I did not ask him for one. In the few moments I greeted him I instantly knew something wasn’t right but at the same time I didn’t want to perpetuate the myth that only upper middle class white people would be interested in an event such as this.

I let him in but watched with uncertainty as he briskly walked through the house. A short time later, an older African American woman with a teen-aged girl and several young children greeted me at the door. It was apparent that they were probably accompanying the young man who had entered earlier. From the questions the older lady asked, it was clear that she wasn’t aware that the event was a fundraiser. In a short amount of time I determined that she believed thats she was touring an open house. All the while I was addressing this woman, the CEO/President of the agency had followed the young man to the back of the house. This associated group took a quick tour of the front of the house and left as the CEO was advising the young man he had to leave. After calling her a bitch in front of everyone present, he finally left. Shortly after, I learned that he had been in the back bedrooms of the house opening cupboards and closets.

After the group left, I realized my internal conflict. It was obvious that the group did not belong. Being African American myself, I wanted to believe this group had a legitimate reason for being there. Once they left, I wondered if the other volunteers who I had not met in the previous years of my participation would think these people were associated with me in some way. I also felt disgusted that this young person embarrassed himself and embarrassed his people when he was in fact the one trepassing. What kind of environment allows people to feel justified in attacking others who refuse to be disrespected? In that instant, that young person bowed down to every low expectation whites had about our people as a whole. In that instant there was truth in the stereotype.

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