Huffington Magazine Issue 26 | Page 80

HUFFINGTON 12.09.12 Stuart Elliott, The Times’ advertising columnist, saw the success that came with other publications’ extensive coverage of the gay community. ELLEN B. NEIPRIS announcements to changing obituaries (currently The Times will not use the word lover and will not say the deceased is “survived by” his or her companion). In almost all cases, gay Times editors, reporters and photographers are guarded, in that New York Times way, about sounding too much like what they call advocates because they are, after all, “journalists.” But at least one, propelled by forces beyond his control, has comfortably crossed that line. “Sometimes greatness is thrust upon you,” says Schmalz, grinning. “Having AIDS has changed my poli- tics. The paper trains you to be apolitical. I grew up at the paper and have been apolitical. Now I’m having a political awakening.” Schmalz has been in and out of the hospital six times in the last year and a half, has had brain surgery, survived pneumonia, and outlasted a rare and immediately fatal brain infection, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. He’s lived far longer than his doctors had hoped for, looks great, and has tremendous energy. He’s now pondering what direction he’d like to go in, what kind of of meaningful writing about his experience he’d like to do for the paper. “I have a voice that needs to to get out now,” he says, beaming with the glow of ac ]