Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - December 22, 2003
The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina, which serves people with HIV and AIDS in Durham, Orange and Wake counties, is organizing the fund-raiser at the Durham Armory on Jan. 2.
The headliner was a source of surprise to at least one group official.
"When they told me, I said, 'Oh, this is not going to work' - far right and all that," acting executive director Jacquelyn Clymore said Friday. "I have to say it has completely changed my perception of her. She appears to be completely committed" to HIV work.
Messner and ex-husband Jim Bakker helped build the world's three largest Christian networks, only to lose everything amid scandal. Her ex-husband was convicted of fraud and served five years in federal prison.
Messner was never charged.
In a telephone interview, Messner said her AIDS work was nothing new.
"Everyone has a right to be who they are. I believe that," she said. "I think people are just people. God does not put labels on people. People put labels on people. And it's none of my business what goes on in people's bedrooms."
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