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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1994)
j u s t o u t ▼ ju n o 3 , 1 0 0 4 ▼ O WE DELIVER • Portland • Salem • Eugene • • Corvallis «Beaverton • Gresham1 • Vancouver, Wash.« AIDS czar's resignation called for • Flyers • Publications • • Newsletters • Brochures • i [^ 0 D istrib Fro^ u tio n Services Many AIDS organizations feel Kristine Gebbie is not exerting the leadership and independence necessary to effectively challenge the epidemic ▼ Call Jon Jacob for a quote 239-0975 by Bob R oehr ASAP president Shepherd Smith cited a meet he National Association of People with ing May 13 at the Food and Drug Administration AIDS called for the resignation of concerning approval for Orasure, a new method Kristine Gebbie as the national AIDS of testing for HIV. He called Gebbie’s represen policy coordinator in a statement re tative at the meeting “very uninformed,” and said leased May 11. Gebbie said, in an interview with the Associated Press, that the she aide has “took a middle-of-the-road position rather than giving strong support to those suffering most no intention of stepping down. in this epidemic.” “Gebbie has proven incapable of creating a The American Foundation for AIDS Research significant role for the Office of National AIDS was “not prepared to comment at this time,” Policy. A concrete strategy to address the mul according to media relations director Mary Ann tiple challenges of the HIV epidemic has not been Caprino. She said any change in policy would forthcoming,” read the NAPWA statement. “In likely take weeks to evolve. the face of this devastating epidemic, the lack of The National Interfaith AIDS Network is still urgency that Gebbie brings to this office is unac formulating its position. Executive director Rev. ceptable.” Kenneth South sent a letter to Gebbie two weeks It continued, “President Clinton must take the ago, concerning the draft Action Agenda, that lead in building both a national consensus and a was highly critical of “the role and effectiveness” political framework that will enable us to end the of the ONAP. HIV epidemic. We believe the president must “We do not have an official position yet,” said move quickly to invigorate the Office of National Maij Plum, who handles health issues for the AIDS Policy and provide the following: visionary National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. She said leadership; coordination and strategy; resources.” the group had met with A ccording to the NAPWA and ACT UP NAPWA statem ent two on May 16 to discuss con things are vitally important. cerns and has talked with One is that the office be re other AIDS organiza structured “in such a way tions. Plum characterized that it has power,” the other the group’s review as “an is that a leadership profile be ongoing ev alu atio n ” drawn up of the necessary rather than a definite ti me- characteristics for Gebbie’s table for making a deci potential successor. sion. NAPWA reflected the Gregory Adams, a concerns of many others spokesman for the Na when its criticism of both tional Minority AIDS the structure of the office Council said, “We feel and Gebbie were announced that at this point, the prob last year. An effort has been lem may very well be with made to work with Gebbie, the office itself rather than but, nine months into her with Kristine Gebbie. Unfortunately, there is no tenure, organization leaders say they see too few real way of knowing.” results. “I don’t know whether asking for [Gebbie’s] It is still unclear how this will play out. Many of resignation is helpful at this point. It took Bill the AIDS and sexual minority organizations con Clinton close to a year [from the time of his tacted voiced reservations about Gebbie and called election] to fill the position,” said Gregory King, for increased activity and leadership on her part. spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign ACT UP applauded the statement. It has op Fund. posed Gebbie from the day her name was an Dan Brass, executive director of the AIDS nounced, citing her record as secretary of health in Action Council, seemed to be walking a tight Washington state on issues such as mandatory rope. He was clearly frustrated with Gebbie, feel reporting of the names of those who test positive ing that neither the structure of the office nor the for HIV and the rationing of health care. person filling it were up to the challenge of HIV. Gay and Lesbian Americans came out in sup Brass used the example of Surgeon General port of the NAPWA position. “Kristine Gebbie Joycelyn Elders to demonstrate the type of lead isn’t the main problem,” said spokeswoman ership and independence he felt was needed. Michey Wheatley. “The problem is, President Brass said that Gebbie “should be in there Clinton has not lived up to the promises he made fighting right now” for those appropriations, but during the campaign.” she is absent. “We certainly consider it her role. The conservative group Americans for a Sound And I think people living with AIDS consider it HIV/AIDS Policy joined in support of the N APW A her role. I would hope that the White House position in a statement issued May 17. considers that to be her role, also. And that is what It read in part: “As the epidemic continues to we are trying to get clarification on right now,” spread into more American communities, we Brass said. need a bold, innovative, national strategy to limit He added, “I would not want to be unduly the suffering that will be caused by this devastat diverted into dealing with this Kristine Gebbie ing epidemic. This has not been forthcoming issue while AIDS funding is going down the from the Office of National AIDS Policy, under tubes.” its current leadership.” T Acupuncture •Chiropractic «Massage Counseling • Naturopathic Medicine i ( 503 ) 230-0812 CIRCLE HEALTHCARE CLINIC Brooke Winter, L.Ac. Jan Corwin, DC Kip M. Hard, DC > Valerie M. Lyon, MS, LMT Suzanne Scopes, ND Elizabeth Carlson, DC, LMT Simone Koos-Gibbs, BS, LMT 316 NE 28th Street • Portland, Oregon 97232 Buying or Selling? Let me give you a hand. You deserve representation whether you are selling or buying real estate. 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