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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 1994)
J«»* ont ▼ January 7. 1094 7 0 HAPPY World AIDS Day notebook ACT UP keeps the pressure cooking on the Clintons to follow through with campaign promises regarding AIDS NEW YEAR! WAYNE, IFROHI ▼ by Bob Roehr illary Clinton’s face dropped slack- increase in funding for services under the Ryan jawed. She seemed to mouth the White Act in a period of general budget austerity. words “Oh shit,” as she sat in the oward the end of the day one man had had limousine parked outside the Holo enough of ACT UP’s disruptions. He was caust Museum. Peering out, she had seen a smiling face and a sign reading “Silence Victor = Zonana, award-winning former AIDS reporter for the Los Angeles Times and founder of Death.” It was like Scrooge recognizing the vision of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Associa Marley. In this case WayneTumer was the “ghost” tion. He is now the openly gay deputy assistant of AIDS past, one of the ACT UP stalwarts who secretary for public affairs with the Department of had dogged the Clintons last year on the campaign Health and Human Services. Zonana stood at the door of the HHS building, trail. ACT UP Washington was playing the role of a red ribbon on his lapel, and when a handful of conscience amidst the Clinton administration’s ACT UP members tried to enter to attend the HHS massive public relations blitz on World AIDS Day. AIDS commemoration, he ordered them thrown It was reminding the powerful and isolated that out. Cheryl Spector had come to see if her brother’s their actions to date are but window dressing, that panel was part of The AIDS Quilt panels on display the specter of AIDS has a human face. The specter would appear again and again at virtually every for the ceremony. She looked Zonana in the face event in Washington that the administration had and asked, "How can you do this?” His response was that it was a closed event for federal employ organized. ees. The small group turned to leave, chanting “ACT onna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Hu UP, fight back, fight AIDS.” But evidently it man Services, announced on Nov. 30 the Clinton administration’s major new initia wasn’t quickly enough, as two people ended up tive to fighting AIDS. It is a 15- member National pushed to the pavement by zealous security guards. Zonana later said in a conversation, “It was Task Force on AIDS Drug Development “to iden clear that they [the people tify and remove any barri he identified as being with ers or obstacles to develop ACT UP] were there to dis ing effective treatments.” rupt the ceremony” and that Shalala’s speech was in the “ceremony organizers terrupted by ACT UP mem didn’t want the disruption.” Walter ber Wayne Turner who Curiously enough, even called the task force just Broadnax “smoke and mirrors.” He addresses though Zonana was ada mant about blocking the federal demanded a crash research employees presumed protesters, he program to find a cure for on World also minimized their im AIDS. AIDS Day pact saying “the other two Bill Freeman, executive things were one guy.” He director of the National As sociation of People with AIDS, has been working remarked, “the sophisticated AIDS treatment ac with Shalala’s office to create the task force. His tivists and the sophisticated AIDS service activists response was tempered. “Any lime the voices of are at the table right now.” Spector was irate. “All of them standing there people living with HIV/AIDS are brought forward in a formal way by our government, we totally with their big red ribbons on, kicking us out, I was support that. However, what we need is an imple furious,” she said, "There is something very wrong mentation plan and strategy. We know what needs with that picture.” to be done. Now we need the will and the commit hursday morning, the day after World AIDS ment to take action.” Day, the phone and fax lines into the ACT UP office were dead. The telephone com CT UP started World AIDS Day with an 8 pany said it was because they couldn’t read Steve am jog, retracing steps from the McDonald’s on the ground floor of the building where Michael’s signature on the payment check. They AIDS czar Kristine Gebbie has her office to the didn’t say that Michael’s standard illegible signa gates of her boss’s office at the White House. ture would keep the check from clearing. The Tumer was incognito, wearing a Clinton mask and phones were back on by 2 pm. Michael said the interruption of service really handing out band-aids, calling them the President’s hampered their ability to reach the media and affect health care proposal. Hclmetcd police and motor cycle cops lined Pennsylvania Avenue, outnum their “spin” on the previous day’s activities. He bering the handful of protesters by more than a couldn’t help but speculate that perhaps the phone problems were not just a coincidence, that some dozen to one. one was trying to “jerk them around.” hecenterpieceof the Clinton administration’s ne member of Gcbbie’s staff sought out World AIDS Day activities was the Turner that evening at a bar. During an President’s visit with AIDS patients and a extended conversation he said that most of speechatGeorgetown University Hospital. Clinton the staff were highly supportive of ACT UP’s was interrupted by activist Luke Sissyfag who actions that day because they kept public pressure shouted, “One year, lots of talk, no action." Clinton tried to calm the situation as Sissyfag on the administration. That strengthened the hand was escorted out of the room. He defended his of AIDS advocates within the administration in administration, citing a 20 percent increase in their internal fight with others who were less sup spending on HIV/AIDS research and a 66 percent portive, he observed. H T T MIKUNI 'PERSIAN RUGS Portland's Finest Selection of New/Old Persian & Other Oriental Rugs, Tribal Kilims, Bags & Pillows STAFF WE BUY OLD RUGS 248-9511 901 SW WASHINGTON ST. 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