ju s t o u t ▼ aprii 2 1 , 1 0 0 5 T 5
national news
Report warns of massive
new HIV infections
A recently released report of the Gay and
Lesbian Medical Association warns that massive
numbers of gay men, bisexuals and lesbians in the
United States and Canada will become infected
with HIV unless dramatic new steps are taken.
The 108-page report, titled “The Silent Crisis:
Ongoing HIV Infections Among Gay Men, Bi
sexuals and Lesbians
at Risk,” is the result
of the first broad-
based sum m it of
scholars and commu
nity leaders convened
to address prevention
of HIV disease in the
sexual minority com
munity. The report
cites a study project-
ing that a majority of young, gay and bisexual
men in the United States will eventually become
infected.
The report identifies key themes and urgent
priorities that emerged from the summit, among
them: the rate of new infections among gay and
bisexual men is staggering, especially among
men of color and youth; prevention efforts must
address the profound emotional and psychologi
cal issues affecting HIV-negative gay and bi
sexual men; building stronger communities and
combating homophobia are essential to fighting
the spread of HIV/AIDS; and HIV is a lesbian
issue, with disturbingly high rates of infection
among certain populations of lesbian and bi
sexual women.
■ ■ ■ II
New Orleans to host
physicians conference
The 12th annual Lesbian Physicians Confer
ence will address “Women’s Health in the Year
2000: Where Are We Headed?” Lesbian physi
cians from the United States and Canada will
gather June 1-4 in New Orleans, La., to address
critical issues affecting women’s health.
Plenary sessions, discussions and workshops
will address such topics as breast cancer, abor
tion, hormone therapies, violence and conflict
resolution in the medical workplace, overcoming
access barriers for women and lesbians of color,
and ways to influence medical organization poli
cies on lesbian health issues. Recipients of re
search grants from the Gay and Lesbian Medical
Association’s Lesbian Health Fund will make
presentations on their groundbreaking work.
For registration information, contact Deborah
Romero at (415) 255-4547.
Lesbian reporter settles
job bias lawsuit
Julie Brienza has announced a settlement of
her federal lawsuit against the religious right
broadcaster whose on-air campaign ended in her
dismissal from United Press International five
years ago.
Brienza contacted Victor Eliason, an evan
gelical minister, in the course of researching a
freelance article for The Washington Blade, a gay
and lesbian newspaper in Washington, D.C. When
Eliason learned that she worked for UPI, he de
manded the wire service fire her on the grounds
that as a lesbian she could not be an objective
reporter.
When UPI refused to fire Brienza, Eliason
orchestrated an on-air campaign against her, giv
ing out the phone numbers of UPI officials and
prompting his listeners to jam the news agency’s
switchboard with demands for Brienza’sdismissal.
UPI eventually succumbed to the pressure and
fired Brienza.
The settlement calls for Eliason to pay $255,000
in damages and to acknowledge publicly that he
accepts the “principle of equal employment op
portunities for gay men and lesbians in the me
dia.” A decision in the lawsuit that Brienza filed
against UPI is still pending.
BRIAN MARKI FRAMING
Youth win big on
Oscar night
Friends and supporters gathered at Club Zei in
Washington, D.C., to watch the Academy Awards
and to raise money for the Sexual Minority Youth
Assistance League.
“The Academy Awards Celebration for Youth”
drew about 150 people and grossed about $7,500
for SMYAL’s programs.
In addition to the Oscar telecast, the event
included musical, dramatic and dance entertain
ment by youth from SMYAL and a silent auction
of items ranging from an autographed Speedo
swimsuit donated by Olympic diver Greg Louganis
(which fetched $625) to the script of the “Chuck
les Bites the Dust” episode of The Mary Tyler
Moore Show.
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Sales A ssociate
U.S. human rights
violations
Amnesty International has released a report
indicating that violations of human rights— espe
cially those of racial minorities— are continuing
in the United States. The report cited violations
such as the use of the death penalty in cases of
juvenile offenders, brutality and excessive force
by police officers, and torture and ill-treatment in
jails and prisons. In all of these areas Amnesty
International has found violations of international
human rights standards, including those of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, which the United States ratified in 1992.
The report was presented in March to the U.N.
Human Rights Committee, a body of 18 experts
which monitors states’ compliance with the treaty.
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headed cocktail dresses, vintage
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.mice Scroggins Jazz Pianist
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AIDS education for federal
employees under fire
In September 1993 President Clinton signed
an executive order creating the Federal Work
place AIDS Education Initiative, a program which
mandates AIDS education for federal employees.
The program was targeted to reach 2 million
employees.
it 1 ^ -
Meanwhile, con-
* T v W titilli*
Jji servati ve groups have
•X fjf
criticized the initia-
five as "pro-gay.’
According to a report
in The Washington
Times, at least two
^‘congressional panels
have announced plans
to investigate the pro
gram in light ofaccu
sations that the curriculum promotes a “homo
sexual lifestyle.”
Rep. Robert K. Doman (R-Calif.), chairman
of the House National Security subcommittee on
personnel, has said he will hold hearings later this
year. Doman has vowed that he will “beg federal
workers of courage to come to [him] anony
mously and help [him] build a case file.”
The House Government Reform and Over
sight subcommittee on civil service has already
begun a preliminary inquiry, the Times reported.
Complaints about the classes range from claims
that the trainer candidate test excluded all but
“pro-gay” trainers to assertions by some federal
workers that they had been subjected to graphic
talk about sex practices.
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•Portland Lesbian Choir
•Seattle Women’s Ensemble
•Sacred Earth Singers (Seattle)
•A Vancouver Women’s Chorus (B.c.i
Scottish Rite Temple, 709 SW 15th • 8:00 pm
$12 advance/$15 at door
TICKETS: It’s My Pleasure, Annie Blooms Books,
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