Paul Carey

Paul Carey
February 21, 1951 – December 7,1989

Paul and I met in March, 1985. Paul was exceptionally kind, passionate, and loving. Facing KS, pneumocystis pneumonia, and AZT, he remained a Shanti Project emotional support volunteer and an advocate for people living with AIDS in San Francisco. Always the activist, he arranged our marriage at The Wedding protest held during the 1987 March on Washington. Paul was honored by Gay singer/songwriter Steven Grossman in “Step”.

Step
A song for Paul Carey
Words and music by Steven Grossman

It started at the office, proceeded to the gym
Everybody asking, “Where’s that red-haired boy been?”
Some of us were wondering could this be the big – A
All of us were hoping that he wouldn’t stay away

What good is the office, why bother with the gym?
If you can’t concentrate and you keep getting thin?
What good is the air if you can’t catch your – breath?
What good is a pillow if you can’t get your rest?

Chorus:
Step, step. Look at all we have got
Step, step. Will we make it to the top?
Step, step. One at a time
Step, step. It’s a mighty hard climb

Mitzi doesn’t speak and she doesn’t get tense
with limited knowledge and infinite sense
She waits on her dinner and welcomes the – leash
and somehow, we know that this dog do capeesh

Red isn’t fearless, he just takes it in stride
and he surely isn’t careless with matters of pride
He dreams of Australia in his mechanical – chair
of grabbing his lover and taking him there

Chorus

Gravity will pull you and moods they will shift
a friend with compassion is always a gift
A cure is for the moment and always on my – mind
when miracles are tardy and nature is blind

Well, the office is for earning and working what you know
the gym is for the body and watching it grow
Forever is elusive and happens to – day
Death is made for living and just a step away

Step, step. Look at all we have got
Step, step. Will we make it to the top?
Step, step. When you step to the stars
I’ll be watching the sky just to see where you are