Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1985)
AIDS test equals big bucks Following Food and Drug Administration approval in March of two blood tests to detect antibodies to the HTLV-III virus. Wall Street analysts projected a $ 175 m illion worldwide market for the tests. C h e m ica l Week magazine reported that the tests are manufactured by Abbott Laboratories of North Chicago and Electro- Nucleonics of Columbia. Md. The Red Cross contracted with Abbott to supply a m inim um o f 6 m illion tests per year to its 57 regional blood services. Electro-Nucleonics was ex pected to begin distributing about 150,000 tests immediately to many of the country's 2.300 blood banks, plasma centers and laboratories. Gay leaders have expressed serious con cern over the tests, which supposedly detect antibodies to the virus believed to be associated with AIDS. The accuracy of the tests is being questioned, along with its psychological effects on those testing posi tive. Leaders warn that test results could lead to com pilation of a blacklist on those testing positive. For inform ation regarding the tests, please contact Cascade AIDS Project, 223-8299. Supreme Court stymies gay rights efforts The Ü.S. Supreme Court March 6 reached a 4-4 split decision on an Oklahom a law a Federal Court of Appeals had ruled violated the free speech provision of the First Am endm ent The tie vote, made possible by the absence o f ailing justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr., autom ati cally upholds the lower court decision. It can not be used as a precedent for other cases. At question was an Oklahom a law allowing dismissal o f teachers who "advocate, encourage or promote homosexual activities." It was passed in 1978 at the urging of Anita Bryant and was the only law of its kind in the country. The legislation was immediately challenged by the National Gay Rights Advo cates (NGRA). Both sides claimed victory following the decision. Leonard Graff. NGRA legal director, said. “ Whatever the vote, the bottom line is that the court affirmed the rights of individu als to discuss homosexuality. This is a land m ark victory for every gay man and woman in America." Larry Lewis, attorney for the Oklahoma City Board of Education, said, “ We also consider it a victory. I am quite sure that what will happen is that the legislature will simply seek to pass a new law." In March, the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a lower court order banning the Detroit Metropolitan C om m unity Church from holding group worship services in Michigan prisons. Despite a strong dissent from Justices Brennan and Marshall, the court also refuses to hear a case brought bv an O hio guidance counselor who lost her job after adm itting she was bisexual. Libel suit nets perjury conviction Two Columbia. S.C., women have been sentenced to three years in prison for perjury for testim ony that they were not lesbian in a libel suit against Sports Illu stra te d Magazine. The C olu m bia Record reports that Pam Parsons and Tina Buck had all but four m onths of their sentences suspended by a CJ.S. District Court judge. Parsons, form er University of South Carolina women's basketball coach, sued S ports Illu stra te d for $75 m illion after the magazine alleged that Parsons resigned fol lowing the discovery that she and Buck were having an affair. Buck was a (JSC basketball player. The wom en testified they were not lovers or lesbians. Sports Illu stra te d attorneys introduced testimony from a disc jockey at a Salt Lake City lesbian bar who said he saw the w om en dancing and kissing in the bar sev eral tim es in the sum m er of 1983. The perjury investigation was ordered by CI.S. District Court Judge Clyde Hamilton af ter a jury found the magazine not guilty of libel in May, 1984. Parsons and Buck pled guilty to perjury charges in November. Survey on Social Security benefits for persons with AIDS and ARC National Gay Task Force, (NGTF) has com pleted a survey of AIDS service organiza tions and their social service advocates which indicates that, overall, it is now easier for persons with AIDS and AIDS-related c o m plex (ARC) to gain expeditious access to the benefits the Social Security Administration provides to disabled persons than was the case in the spring of 1984. However. NGTF’s AIDS Program Coordi nator, John Boring, com mented that “though m any of the problems and inordinate delays have been alleviated, in some parts of the country persons with AIDS are still experienc ing unacceptably long waiting periods and in m ost areas those who suffer from AIDS- related com plex that is severe enough to be disabling are not consistently being allowed benefits." The NGTF survey elicited 18 resp * ises, including com m ents from social service ad vocates working for 12 AIDS service organi zations: The Gay Men's Health Crisis of New York City. Health Education Resource O rga nization of Baltimore, The Pitt Men's Study of Pittsburg. AID Atlanta. Hearth Crisis Network o f Miami. AIDS Education Programs of Key West, The Dallas AIDS Project, Howard Brown Memorial Clinic. The AIDS Support Group of Seattle. Cascade AIDS Project of Portland. Oregon, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and the Los Angeles AIDS Project. In three localities, respondents were working in as sociation with but not directly for the follow ing organizations: The New Haven AIDS Pro ject, and the Boston AIDS Action Committee. Also included were representatives of three health departments who were acting as advo cates: O hio Department of Hearth. Cincinnati Dept, of Hearth, and the New Jersey Dept, of Health. NALGAP publishes a quarterly newsletter which includes news of activities throughout the world designed to enhance the treatment of gay and lesbian alcohol and drug clients. It also presents articles and papers of special interest to those who are concerned about the particular needs of these clients. The as sociation also makes available to treatment faciltiies and other organizations educational and training program s and seminars on the nature o f homosexuality and how it affects treatment. For further inform ation on the association or m em berhip write to NALGAP, 1208 East State Blvd., Fort Wayne. Indiana 46805. For a bibliography on gay and lesbian topics write to NALGAP. 204 West 20th Street. New York. NY 10011. Information on the first national conference or registration form s can be obtained by w rit ing to Trove of Treasures. PO Box 381. Val paraiso. Indiana 46383. Abstracts for papers to be delivered at the conference will be considered by the c o m mittee. They would be sent to Bob Kajdan, Co-chair, Memorial Hospital ATC. 527 W. South St., W oodstock. IL 60098. U nless o th e rw ise indicated. O ut Across th e N a tio n Lvas co m p ile d bp R osanne K ing fro m sources in c lu d in g Gag C o m m u n ity N ew s. W ashington Blade. C o m in g Up. C h e m ica l Week a n d Seattle G ay News. NALGAP slates first annual conference COUNSELI NG The National Association of Lesbian and Gay Alcoholism Professionals (NALGAP) will hold its first national conference September 26-29. 1985 at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in Chicago. General sessions will discuss such topics as gay spirituality, reaching out. establishing relationships, alcohol and drug problem s in the gay and lesbian com munity. Conference workshops will be held in the areas of gay and lesbian adult children of alcoholics, sexuality and homosexuality, as sessment and treatment of addictions and the business end of treatment and private practice. NALGAP is an association of alcohol and drug therapists, program directors, doctors, nurses, and other hearth care professionals who have a particular interest in the special needs of the lesbian and gay client in treat ment. Membership in NALGAP does not indi cate a person’s sexual preference, many of the association's most dynamic members are non-gay. Adults and Children Families and Couples PATRICIA I. CHANCE, MSW THERAPIST Depression • Relationship Issues Personal Transitions • Incest Survivors Coming Out Concerns • Sliding Fee Scale (503) 220-0210 WE'LL HAVE <0UE PE LIC BUFFETm 18 CUBIC FEET OF YOUR FREÛH AIR! \ Northern Italian Cuisine M o n . -Sat., 5:30-10:30 p.m. 2832 SE Belmont Portland, Oregon 238-1464 Call for reservations AS OF MARCH 1ST, NO SMOKING IN OUR DINING ROOM Old Wives’ Tales Restaurant 1300 East Burnside 238-0470 Hiy! HHt r E h i pla c í t m t k i p ' s Tuesday & Wednesday Buffet Lunch 53.95/ Dinner 54.95 rp/tfix** Just Out. Mav 1985 X \