Philip asked me to post this letter from him. I put notes on his medical condition below that, and the previous posting of his story, my satire, and my editorial comment below that. Tim Campbell
Frank
Tritico, Chair
Lambda
Houston
1201
W Clay
Houston
TX 77006
January
29, 2012
Frank:
After
studying Tim Campbell’s write-up of my banishment by the Lambda Board, I
understand more specifically what I am doing wrong than I did from previous
verbal and written warnings from the board.
I request once again to be allowed to attend meetings at Lambda. Lambda is a big and important part of my
life. Lambda may not need me, but I sure
need Lambda.
I
now know, from the specific clarity of Tim’s written material, that my kissing
and touching offend some people. Consequently, I promise to never kiss people
at Lambda again, and never to touch or play with their chests and or muscles or
other body parts, not even jokingly.
I
am very sorry my behavior has bothered some people and promise not to do that
in the future.
Once
again I ask that you respond to my request some days prior to birthday night at
Lambda for February 2012. I would very
much like to get my 16-year medallion that night at Lambda.
Respectfully,
Philip
Bowman
525
Heights Blvd Apt 6
Houston
TX 77019
713
864-5520
cc:
Tim Campbell for email distribution
Phenytek from Physicians
Desk Reference 2007 p 2160-1
Philip
takes medications for seizures (phenytoin sodium or Phenytek) daily and reliably. The PDR notes: “Phenytoin is and antiepileptic
drug...Phenytoin tends to stabilize the threshold against hyperexcitability
caused by excessive stimulation or environmental changes.... Phenytek Capsules are indicated for the
control of generalized tonic-clonic (grand
mal) and complex partial (psychomotor, temporal lobe) seizures and
prevention and treatment of seizures during or following neurosurgery."
Epilepsy Encyclopaedia
Britannica CD 1998
“Epilepsy, sudden and recurrent
disturbances in mental function, state of consciousness, sensory activity, or
movements of the body, caused by paroxysmal malfunction of cerebral nerve
cells. Epilepsy includes generalized convulsions in which there is sudden
unconsciousness with falling and shaking of limbs (grand mal), momentary lapses of awareness (petit mal), as well as other types of activity that may include bizarre automatic behavior, strange memories,
illusory and hallucinatory experiences, and changes in mood.”
Onset of seizures. “In more than 50 percent of persons with
generalized convulsions, there is some evidence of a beginning in a local area
(of the brain). Focal onset may be manifested by localized movements or
sensations of a part of the body or by subjectively experienced warnings, called
auras, that last from a fraction of a second to a few seconds. Auras arising from specific areas of the
brain include illusions that the environment is strangely familiar, auditory or
visual hallucinations, ringing in the ears, and unpleasant odors or
tastes. Although part of the seizure
proper, auras are considered warnings of an impending attack.
Defect following brain
surgery
“Surgical
operations on the sides of the brain (temporal lobes) to remove tissues that
produce symptoms of epilepsy are routine.
While good results are often achieved, a degree of memory defect
ensues. Operations on the dominant
(usually left) temporal lobe tend to hamper one’s ability to learn verbal
information by hearing and reading...Operations on one temporal lobe where
there is unsuspected damage to its fellow on the other side of the brain
produce severe and persistent memory defect, altogether comparable to
postencephalitic amnesia.”
AA Unity: Tradition 1. Page 129 Paragraph 3
“We
believe thee isn’t a fellowship on earth which lavishes more devote care upon
its individual members; sure there is none which more jealously guards the
individual’s right to think, talk, and act as he wishes. No A.A. can compel another to do anything;
nobody can be punished or expelled. Are
Twelve Steps to recovery are suggestions; the Twelve Traditions which guarantee
A.A.’s unity contain not a single “Don’t.”
They repeatedly say “We ought...”but never “you must!”
Philip's brain-injury and his current problem
In the early 1990s, , Philip B was attacked by basher/s upon leaving the gay bars near Fairview and Stanford in Houston, Texas. The attack left him with a major brain injury and he spent about three months in the hospital, much of it in intensive care at Ben Taub General Hopsital.
Prior to this attack and injury, Philip was a top salesman with a national firm. You never met anyone more upbeat and outgoing. Smiles all over the place.
Philip's brain injury did not take away his out going, extroverted personality. He rarely remembers your name or persona, but he greets every smiling face with a hug and a kiss. His shares in AA meetings are incredibly up beat, and usually end with "KISS, KISS, KISS, keep it simple sweetheart!"
Philip's problem is that since his brain injury, he also greets most everyone smiling like an outrageous drag-queen emceeing the muscleman strip shows common in the gay bars: That is, he gives people a little tongue, sometimes a tongue in the ear, and sometimes feels up their chest muscles like a muscle show emcee might.
In spite of multiple warnings from individuals and the Lambda board, Philip can't get it through his brain-damaged head that this extroverted behavior is not making him popular.
Philip's success staying sober and being self-supporting
Philip has been continuously sober since February 4, 1996. He
attends AA meetings around central Houston, mostly at Lambda which is a
gay AA club with over 40 meetings each week.
Philip is entirely self-support doing maid service for individuals and often calls himself "Mucho Maid."
Lambda Board bars Philip Permanently
In mid
May, 2011 the Lambda Board warned Philip that if they got any more
complaints about him violating any of its over 20 long codes of conduct,
he would be barred from Lambda
permanently. Lambda had already barred him several times. By July 8, this same board had already found reason to violate Philip again and barred him permanently from Lambda. (Somehow, that's no surprise.)
Lambda barred Philip not only from it's lounge spaces, where all the trouble seems to occur, but also from all 45 of its meetings. To my knowledge, Philip has never disrupted an AA meeting.
As of this writing (January 26, 2012) Lambda continues to refuse to allow Philip to attend meetings there. He has requested in writing permission to celebrate his 16 years sobriety at Lambda at the end of February. He is patiently awaiting Lambda's response. A response may or may not come.
Satirical ad for AA bouncer
BOUNCER WANTED FOR AA
CLUB. Must enforce dress code, language code,
manners code, and keep convicted offenders off our property. Must keep bicycles out of building, prevent
people from leaving umbrellas behind.
Ex-drunk with 2 years dry preferred.
Only large and ugly need apply.
Experience stopping crosstalk a plus.
Prior felony convictions no problem. Lambda, 1201W Clay, Houston TX 77006 Equal
Opportunity Employer. Affirmative Action
points for really tough women applicants. 713 521-1243. Ask for Mykie or Francis. Email chair@lambdahouston.org
(Tim is saving his shekels to run this satirical ad on
Craig’s List if need be. Wink. Wink.
Wink.)
The Only Requirement for AA
Membership
(Page
139 Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
published 1953)
“The only requirement for
A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.”
(First
published by AA 1946 later confirmed at 1950 Convention in Cleveland.)
“This
Tradition is packed with meaning. For
A.A. is really saying to every serious drinker, “You are an A.A. member if you
say so. You can declare yourself in;
nobody can keep you out. No matter who
you are, no matter how low you’ve gone, no matter how grave your emotional
complications—even your crimes—we still can’t deny you A.A. We don’t want
to keep you out. We aren’t a bit
afraid you’ll harm us, never mind how twisted or violent you may be.”
(This text was written by
Bill Wilson himself.)
Editorial Comment by Tim Campbell
The only codes AA needs are
Love thy neighbor as thyself and our primary purpose is to stay sober and to
help others achieve sobriety. Those who
claim we need special language codes, dress codes and manners codes worry too
much. Although we’d like AA meeting
places to be reasonably safe environments, we need to remember that AA exists
to help sociopathic users of alcohol and drugs.
Many of us come in ruff. Many,
like me, also remain ruff. Gay AA places
need to remember that our community comprises of many outrageous personalities
and many prudes. Good gay club
management should not take sides. We are
all grownups. We can work out our
differences without much supervision from boards.
