20
Diversity Rules Magazine
February 2019
Belo Cipriani is an
award-winning author
and prize-winning
journalist. His new
book, Firsts: Coming of
Age Stories by People
with Disabilities, is
available through every
online retailer. Learn more at www.belocipriani.com and
www.olebbooks.com.
Some people prefer to communicate with words, while
others find images more telling. For San Francisco resi-
dent Kurt Schwartzmann, 54, and a gay man, drawing
has always been a way to share his thoughts with the
world.
"I've always loved to draw," said Schwartzmann. "My
parents -- retired educators -- encouraged my artistic
abilities."
Schwartzmann used his creative talents to launch a
20-year career as a professional pastry chef and baker.
While things were good for some time, it all changed
in 2006 when CMV retinitis, a complication of AIDS,
attacked his left eye. e virus severed the optic nerve
and slowly and painlessly, he began to lose his vision.
"One day the doorbell rang, I went to answer, and re-
alized that I could not see anything through the peep-
hole with my left eye," he shared.
Life became even more complicated when, in 2008,
he lost his housing and found himself living on the
streets.
"A MUNI operator showed me a great kindness,"
Schwartzmann said. "She allowed me to board her
bus and sleep when I had nowhere else to turn, even
though I had no money to pay the fare."
e display of compassion the MUNI driver showed
Seeing In The Dark
A Tribute To San Fran Transit
By Belo Cipriani
