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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1998)
^4 J«ut aut • february 20. 1998 PTÌV7TìTm news those who neglected to divulge their HIV status regularly used condoms, even though they on the D ecline knew they could transmit the potentially fatal virus. n a report to the 5th Conference on Shame and fear of rejection, violence or loss Retrovirus and Opportunistic Infections held in early February in Chicago, Dr. Kevin De of income were some reasons for failing to tell, says Dr. Michael Stein of Brown University Cock said deaths from AIDS fell more than 40 School of Medicine in Providence, R.I. percent during the first half of 1997, compared But some respondents said they thought it to the same period in 1996. was their partner’s responsibility to avoid get According to United Press International, ting HIV. scientists say the decline can be traced to new Stein, who led the research team, says this is drugs rather than preventative messages. “the underside of the good news” about AIDS Terry Hammond, an HIV-prevention spe treatment successes. cialist at the Centers for Disease Control and He says the research suggests that thousands Prevention in Atlanta, tells UPI: “The number of people may, without knowing it, be putting of deaths from AIDS are decreasing, the num themselves at risk. ber of new cases of AIDS are decreasing, but The study, which appeared in the Feb. 9 about 40,000 new HIV infections occur each issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, is the first year.” to look at women and drug users. Earlier studies “We are at a very special moment in the epi focused on disclosure only among gay and demic of AIDS in the industrialized world. A bisexual men. new era in the AIDS epidemic has become The study showed that people with one apparent,” said De Cock. partner were 3.2 times more likely to reveal However, he added that the epidemic is HIV infection. Nevertheless, 12 percent of rampant in the developing world, where 90 per those in committed relationships did not tell. cent of AIDS cases exist. The research also showed that African Americans were three times more likely than W eek of P rayer European Americans or Latino/as to keep their disease a secret, a finding Stein says he cannot T akes a W hack at AIDS explain. n response to the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on African American communi S howtime P icks U p ties, a coalition of churches and community based organizations will observe the Black W here PBS L eaves O ff Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of his June—four years after the Public AIDS, beginning Sunday, March 1. Broadcasting System declined to produce Through sermons, prayer, music and infor the sequel—Armistead Maupin’s More Tales of mation about HIV/AIDS prevention and treat the City will air on the Showtime cable channel. ment, the event According to the San Francisco Chronicle, an seeks to mobilize ebullient Maupin was joined by four returning black churches to cast members—Olympia Dukakis, Laura become centers for Linney, Bill Campbell and Thomas Gibson—at AIDS education and a Jan. 18 press conference in Pasadena, Calif., compassionate care. to promote the new miniseries. The driving force It seems Showtime likes the kind of pro behind the week of gramming that makes PBS-types dyspeptic, prayer is The Balm in since the sequel promises to be even saucier Gilead, a national than the original miniseries. organization based in New York, which houses the country’s K ing S peech to C rown “develops and disseminates HIV/AIDS educa tion materials that are spiritually and culturally L ambda A nniversary appropriate for use by black churches.” ambda Legal Defense and Education Fund According to the group, federal statistics says civil rights advocate Coretta Scott project that within two years, African King will deliver the Americans—while only 12 percent of the pop keynote speech at the ulation—will account for 50 percent of all organization’s 25th AIDS cases. AIDS is now the leading cause for anniversary event in African Americans under age 55. While overall Chicago on March 31. deaths from AIDS declined for the first time in “Mrs. King’s tireless 1996, the number of new cases among African Americans continues to rise. commitment to elimi nating all forms of dis The group, which boasts endorsements from crimination and to the National Baptist Convention of America forging a united vision and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, has formed partnerships with The NAMES of a free and just soci Project Foundation and a number of pharma ety has inspired our ceutical companies to help produce other work at Lambda for events, including a weekly radio program and a many years,” says series of town meetings. Kevin M. Cathcart, Lambda’s executive direc tor. For more information, contact The Balm in The legal organization is the nation’s oldest Gilead at (212) 730-7381, or BalmG ilead@aol .com. and largest committed to achieving full recog nition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men and people with HIV and AIDS through litiga L overs at R isk ? tion, education and public policy work. AIDS D eaths I weXOMNO FAMHJES OF AU SHAPES ANO COLORS ENROLLING NOW FOR 1997-98 MORNING & PRE-KINDERGARTEN 5500 SW Dosch Rd. • 244-9141 after 4pm A parent co-operative preschool HAMID ’ S PERSIAN RUGS Portland’s Finest Selection of New/Old Persian & Other Oriental Rugs, a . Tribal Kilims, Bags & Pillows Smart Buyers Choice Since 1981 HAM, I P’S IPERSIANRUGS • Member of Oriental Rug Retailer of America • ORRA Certified Appraiser • Expert Cleaning & Repair • Pads & Rug Underlays I 248-9511 901 SW WASHINGTON ST. CORNER OF 9th & WASH. Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5 ! L n a study of 203 HIV-infected men and women, 40 percent of the 129 who said they were sexually active did not tell their partners about their status, United Press International reported on Feb. 8. Researchers found that only 42 percent of I L et ’ s G o M arching ...A gain he Human Rights Campaign, a national gay and lesbian political organization, and the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan T
