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.
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