A Lifelong Commitment to Those Touched by the AIDS Crisis
The Impact of the AIDS Quilt
The AIDS Memorial Quilt brings generations together to raise awareness about the devastating impact of the ongoing AIDS crisis.
There are roughly 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,000 individuals in this epic 54-ton tapestry. How is such a massive collection of touching memorials maintained?
The Importance of AIDS Quilt Volunteers
From a neverending array of sewing projects to lumbering large panels across warehouses, displays, and the occasional national monument, volunteering with the Quilt is often brutal, unforgiving, and unrecognized work.
Today, we take a moment to recognize one of those volunteers: Cliff Lowe. Cliff sent his Hand Maidens of the Quilt jacket back to the National AIDS Memorial, wanting it to rest with the Quilt he committed decades to expanding, sharing, and maintaining.
A Life-Long Commitment to the AIDS Crisis
Who is Cliff Lowe? Gert “The Mother of the AIDS Quilt” McMullin wrote this about Cliff’s story:
Cliff “Greta Grump” Lowe,
Cliff volunteered (after working a full shift as an Alameda County Parole Officer) everyday for up to 12/16 hours a day. He would show up at 2362 Market and allow Evelyn and myself to shamelessly work him to death. Mostly, but not limited to, Cliff would sling Quilt on and off of the 16 foot shelves. (I should note here that we had no ladders then…we just climbed them and hung on with our strength). It was brutal work and Cliff thrived on it. The amount of displays we did back then was crazy and had it not been for Cliff much of it would have never got out. Yes Cliff was a physically driven volunteer he also had an incredibly soft, caring side. A side he would let come out as needed by another. Whether that be a panel maker, a visitor or maybe a Bitter Bitter Old Fag Hag as myself.
I remember one day having an especially hard time and do you know the feeling that you have when you know that the next person you see is the one that you are going to dump all of your crap on?? Well then here comes Cliff strutting on through the door. I said to myself “Damn and I really like him”. So I tried to do him a favor and hide under the staircase but he saw me and walked right up to me. I said “Oh so you want it? Ok I will give it to you”. And I went on a rant and a rave for sometime…dumping everything on him. He sat there very patiently smiling all the while. Boy did that piss me off. And he said so softly “That’s OK Gert You Deserve to be able to rant” So then I screamed at him “Don’t you be kind and forgiving to me when I am clearly being unreasonable!!!”, But Cliff loved me so much that he was willing to let me take out my anger on him and, oddly enough, was quite honored that I had selected him to do so. I will always remember that day and have told that story many times. Cliff was our QUILT family. There is nothing that man wouldn’t do for The QUILT, for Evelyn or for myself. We love you and respect you more than we could put into words.
Cliff also is a big supporter of The AIDS Grove. He has donated tens of thousands of dollars to secure a place in the Circle of Friends for those in the community that he wanted to be remembered for the wonderful giving people they are, myself included. He was an advocate and supporter for all gay rights and involved with other organizations beyond The QUILT. He made countless panels and frequently stopped the work of The QUILT to help someone who needed someone to
share their story of their loss.
Cliff took his title of Handmaiden of The QUILT seriously and protected each block like a mother lion with her cubs. I am not exaggerating when I say that Cliff Lowe gave his life (personal and physical) to the care of The QUILT. The amount of love and hard, hard work he gave to The QUILT could never be matched. I hope he is as honored to have worked with us as, I know, we are of having worked with him. Nobody has loved The QUILT more.
So Thank You
Madame of the Yellow Bordello
Madame QUILT Slave
Madame Grommet Slave
Madame QUILT Lumper
Madame QUILT Zombie
Madame Handmaiden of The QUILT
And of course Friend and Drinking Buddy
You are not forgotten nor will you be forgotten
I love You So
The QUILT Loves You So
Gert
Thank you, Cliff Lowe, for everything you’ve done for the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Like Cliff, you can make a difference by volunteering with the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Learn more here.
Watch Gert’s tribute to Cliff:
