Mission Statement

All visitors are welcome here! Even if at times it may seem to focus on residents of Texas, the issues faced by the gay and HIV+ community are universal, and I’m sure you’ll find plenty of interesting and useful information here no matter where you happen to live.

Having said that, I would add that Texas does have some extreme needs, however. When I first moved To Tyler, TX in 2006, I was told by everyone that there was no gay community here. When I asked why, everyone seemed to agree that this area has more of a hostile attitude toward gays than anywhere in the country. Apparently, we’re famous for our “in-hospitability.” Though it may be a long road, I hope to do my part to change all that.

This website represents part of that opportunity. Doing volunteer work for Tyler AIDS Services, I was made aware of a large segment of our population that is “out of care,” meaning these HIV+ people believe that the threat of intolerance is too great to seek or receive treatment. Their alternative is to die quietly at home, because they are surrounded by the prevailing “East Texas” attitude that gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered people aren’t really “people” — and that those afflicted with HIV probably deserve what they get….

By establishing a forum here within tridd dot com, I hope to offer us a place where we can be a community, and a place where we can see that we are not alone.

With this in mind, the “forums” section is this site’s most powerful feature. Through connecting and communicating with each other, we can be empowered by our own community. That’s the real reason for tridd dot com.

I wish you the very best for a life filled with love and peace and joy.

Troy Carlyle

home - mission - tridd origins - book - forums

about me - how you can help - resources & links - library - congressional links

 politics - spirit - stories - humor - calendar - contact me

website feedback - sitemap

 

This site best viewed with Internet Explorer. Some information may not appear, or appear incorrectly when viewed with other browsers.

"The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative, the second is disastrous."

– Margot Fonteyn