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Drug success affects
risky practices
For information about Creating Change, visit
the NGLTF web site at http://www.ngltf.org/
cc97 or call (202) 332-6483, ext. 3329.
The success of antiretroviral drug cocktails is
changing the way gay men perceive the risk of
contracting HIV, a
San Francisco-based
team of researchers
reported in the August
issue of the New En
gland Journal o f
Medicine.
University of Cali
fornia researchers
questioned 54 men
about their attitudes toward unprotected anal in
tercourse, and found 26 percent were less con
cerned about becoming HIV-positive in light of
protease inhibitor therapies, which have been
publicly trumpeted as a near cure for AIDS.
Seven of the men interviewed said explicitly
that availability of new drugs made them more
willing to risk transmission of HIV through sex;
eight men said they had already taken such chances.
Attempts to prevent the spread of HIV must
take into account these changing perceptions re
garding the risk of infection, say the researchers,
otherwise the readily available treatments pose
potential new public health problems because
they may influence risky sexual behavior.
One lump or two?
La Nouvelle Justine, a New York restaurant
that takes its name from a Marquis de Sade novel,
is redefining table service by offering mild sado
masochism along with French cuisine, reports
The Associated Press.
“A restaurant is all about service anyhow,”
says co-owner Robert Jason, 29. “We’ve just
taken the servant and master theme and exploded
it.”
The establishment, which is somewhat frowned
upon by hard-core fetishists, draws a weekend
crowd of giggling voyeurs and campy celebrities
like Joan Rivers. Dim lighting and medieval art
set the scene, while dominants ( a k a waiters and
waitresses) and slaves (vinyl-sheathed and dog-
collared busboys) keep the customers occupied
between courses.
“It was totally worthwhile—there’s nothing
like seeing your loved ones get put in their proper
place,” patron Tina Block told a reporter after
US West extends
domestic partner benefits
Same-sex domestic partners of US West em
ployees will be offered health-care benefits that
heterosexual employees’ spouses now receive.
Eligible dependents of same-sex partners will
also be covered.
The change applies to all employees of US
West, including US West Communications and
US West Media Group. US West has 69,000
employees in 14 states.
“The time is right to expand eligibility for our
health-care offerings in this way,” says Toni
Ozeroff, US West vice
president. “Good em
ployees should have a
good health-care
package, and we have
both at US West.”
Ozeroff adds that
extending coverage to
same-sex domestic
partners will help the
company attract and
retain qualified employees.
Employees are currently being notified of the
news, and open enrollment materials are sched
uled to be mailed to their homes in the latter half
of September. The enrollment period will run
through October, and coverage will take effect
January 1998.
Queer congress in session
Activists will converge on San Diego for five
days, Nov. 12-16, for the National Gay and Les
bian Task Force’s 10th annual conference.
This year’s Creating Change Conference will
feature more than 120 workshops and networking
sessions designed to build the skills of organizers
working at state and local levels.
Keynote speakers for the event include Cali
fornia Assembly Speaker Pro Tern Sheila Kuhl,
National Latino/a Lesbian and Gay Organization
Executive Director Martin Omelas-Quintero, and
author Dorothy Allison, who will deliver the Vito
Russo Lecture on Art and Politics.
Workshop topics cover a wide range of issues,
such as sodomy laws, marriage, fundraising,
people of faith, youth and campus organizing,
media advocacy and public speaking, workplace
organizing and anti-violence campaigns.
ordering $20 spankings for both her brother and
her boyfriend. “I’d also like to get one for my
mother, but I don’t think she’d be into it. Then
again, she did it to me,” the 30-year-old secretary
added.
Western medicine warms
to alternative therapies
Responding to patient demand, doctors at the
University of California at San Francisco are
beginning to incorporate spirituality and alterna
tive therapies into the healing process by offering
an eight-week stress reduction course.
United Press International says 30 HIV-posi
tive patients attended the center’s first day-long
healing retreat earlier this summer.
The focus of UCSF’s program is on medita
tion, attitudinal healing, spirituality and personal
empowerment as auxiliaries to traditional West
ern medicine.
Ken Farber, who runs the university’s Mind
fulness Based Stress Reduction and Well-Being
Program, says most people who complete the
course report a decrease in physical and psycho
logical symptoms. He also points to earlier stud
ies which have shown that the integration of
behavioral and relaxation therapies with conven
tional medicine aids in recovery from back ail
ments.
From grassroots
to corporate sponsorship
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defa
mation says the theme for the fourth annual Gay
and Lesbian History Month— held during Octo
ber— will be Charting the Future, Reclaiming the
Past.
Cosponsors of the month-long celebration in
clude the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers
Network; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force;
Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum; Dig
nity USA; BiNet USA; National Latino/a Lesbian
and Gay Organization; GenderPAC; Human
Rights Campaign; Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays; Gay and Lesbian Parents