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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1992)
16 ▼ July 1902 ▼ ju «t out local news Public Enema Action 35 indiv iduals participated in what was deemed a “ Public Enema Action” at the Sunnyside Health Center and Chiropractic Clinic, on May 26. Protestors were acting in response to an incident in which an H IV positive woman was refused treatment by a medical practitioner at the clinic this past April. According to the Radical Activist Truth Squad (R A T S ) and AC T-U P, the woman had an appointment at the clinic for a colonic enema, a procedure sometimes used in the treatment o f HIV, to aid in keeping the immune system healthy. After entering the clinic, paying for the visit and dressing down, the woman informed the therapist o f her H IV status. The health care worker would not administer the treatment, citing a lack o f proper medical equipment for an “ invasiveproce dure.” Other than universal precautions, no spe cial equipment is needed to give colonic enemas to persons who are HIV-infected. After the inci dent, the activists say that two doctors at theclinic confirmed that it is not their policy to treat persons living with HIV. The woman in the case filed a complaint with the Chiropractic Licensing Board, which later decided that the doctors were within their rights to refuse treatment, because technically the woman had not been taken on as a patient. Christie Joachim, executive director for the Chirporactic Licensing Board, said the board decided that “ there was not a denial o f treatment per se...she had some other difficulties...she did not follow intake procedures....the complaint, as far as w e’ re concerned, is closed at this time.” Joachim also added, “This [complaint] has brought to our atten tion our field doctors’ lack o f knowledge in this areas." Joachim stated that the board is now doing educational programs and sending out rules and referral information to license holders about H IV and other pathogens. r The demonstration at the Sunnyside Clinic was co-sponsored by R A T S and A C T UP, in an effort to call attention to the discrimination that people living with HIV/AIDS often encounter within the health industry. The two activist groups, who were involved in a political split this past year, seem to be moving towards a new coopera tion, says Stephen Floyd o f R ATS. Plans postponed The O ffice for Metropolitan Events says plans for a “ Stand Up Portland” celebration, to affirm the diversity o f Portland’ s population, have been postponed until August o f next year, due to a lack o f corporate sponsorship and time considerations. “ Stand Up Portland” was originally slated to happen August 22. The event w ill eventually consist o f an all-day, city-wide celebration at Waterfront Park. A year-long grassroots effort w ill begin some time this summer to raise funds and plan the event for August, 1993, says Brenda Jacobs from the Metropolitan Events Office. Jacobs says that in dividuals interested in volunteering or donating funds to the event should contact Eric Fishman at 223-3299. Update on Esther's Pantry Vicky Johnson, president o f Esther’s Pantry, says that the local agency has seen a dramatic decrease in cash donations in past months con trary to what was reported in Just Out's June article entitled "Charities are being pressed." Johnson says, “ Donations, other than designated by estates o f deceased patrons o f the pantry and sponsored functions, are substantially down. In the past three months, the total o f general dona tions has dropped dramatically to less than $100. When you’ re spending between $2,500 - 3,000 a month, there is definitely a reason for concern.” Guess who's coming to dinner Johnson would also like to clarify that al though the staff at Esther’ s Pantry is not very large, it is composed entirely o f volunteers. I f you are interested in becoming involved with this non-profit organization, call 236-4475. Urvashi Vaid, the Executive Director for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, w ill be this year’s keynote speaker at the Right to Privacy The Other Queens’ Ball falls short of its monetary expectations The Other Queens’ Ball, the glittery, gala event o f the year to raise funds for the Campaign for a Hate Free Oregon, apparently not only failed to make a profit, but ran into a deficit. The event was produced by B ill Dickey and a committee o f 15 people chaired by John Baker. The producers sold drastically less tickets than they had ex pected. A number o f groups were expected to support the event and didn't. "Emotionally I feel pretty beat up over the fact that we didn't make any money." says Dickey. " I don’t think there is anyone out there who can say that I don't care as much or more about the Campaign as anyone else. "With the exception o f a couple o f items that were really my responsibility to manage, there was a committee o f 15 people who made the budgetary decisions," explains Dickey. The Oregon Freedom Festival, a proposed three day festival to celebrate Oregon’s diversity also produced by Bill Dickey, was cancelled because o f the unexpected short-fall o f funds. The Oregon Freedom Walk, a five-kilometer, fundraising walkathon managed and sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries and the Campaign for a Hate Free Oregon, continues to move forward. “ In fact, a mailing just went out this last week, and already w e’re getting new sponsors,’’ reported the Reverend Rodney Page o f Ecumenical Minis tries. Political Action Committee’s 11 th Annual Lucille Hart Dinner. The dinner is R T P ’ s largest fundraiser o f the year; money raised at the event aids the P A C ’s pursuit o f full civil rights for Oregon’s lesbian, gay and bisexual community. Vaid, who was in Portland recently to help in the fight against the Oregon Citizens Alliance, oversees the N G L T F ’ s national membership lobby for lesbian and gay civil rights. She has served as that group’ s executive director since 1989. Pride of the Rose The Pride o f the Rose Scholarship is once again accepting applications for scholarships from gays, lesbians, or their children, who are pursuing their education beyond the secondary level and can show proof o f need. This is year 14 for the scholarship fund. Applications are available dur ing July, with scholarships awarded in August for the ’92-'93 school year. The scholarships, avail able to Portland Tri-county area or Clark County Washington residents, are administered through the Equity Foundation. Applications may be ob tained at The Embers, 110 N W Broadway, Port land; The City Nightclub, 13 N W 13th, Portland; or through the Equity Foundation, P.O. Box 5696, Portland, O R 97228 (phone 280-0628); Frank Schreckenberger at 236-1091; Curt Meyers at 639-0888. Applications must be received by July 31. Don't You Deserve the Best in Portable Spas? The Hot Spring Advantage: ■ Luxury Jet Systems mm* ■ Stylish Design ■ Deep Comfortable Seating ■ Easy-care Low Maintenance features ■ Local Delivery, Set-up and Service ■ 5 year warranty Please mention this ad. We appreciate our Just Out cutomers Oregon Hot Spring p o il ~T~~A B L E S P A S BEAVERTON SALEM PORTLAND 10367 SW Canyon Rd. Near Hwy 26 & 217 2649 Commercial St. Southeast 1904 NE 82nd Near 1-84 and 205 643-5002 363-4000