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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2000)
maich 2.2000 * J n t L,m;i i ;ivj4.'i m ew s C ount on the C ounty Trying to fill the void left by the closure of CAP'S H IV testing program, Multnomah County's STD clinic is off to a good start t’s been eight months since Cascade A ID S Project shuttered its HIV counseling and testing program, a cherished service among gay and bi men, both as volunteers and as clients. For many years, queer guys sought out C A P because, historically, the organization had been the place they felt most at ease getting tested. Spawned from earlier gay activism, C A P was viewed not simply as gay-friendly hut as an insti tution within Portlands gay and lesbian com munity. Indeed, the HIV counseling and testing program, established in 1994, was primarily fueled by gay volunteers who were trained and certified, committing months— sometimes years— to assisting clients. In a Just Out article published last June, Geoffrey Bateman, a gay man and C A P employ ee who has since left the agency, said: “My sense from clients is that they come in and identify very strongly with the counselor. It can be very powerful when they know a person has been in the same situation. Or had to make the same decisions, or had to go through a similar process to get where they are today.” Bateman said C A P tested an estimated 600 people annually. C A P’s executive director, Thomas Bruner, told Just Out the program was discontinued for financial reasons. In the same story, Alan Rose, who was then I T££N by Inga So ren sen manager of C A P’s HIV prevention and educa tion programs— and has also since left— said: “The testing program has been so successful. It’s a great loss. It feels like a chapter is closed. The question now is: W ho will take the lead for HIV prevention among gay and bi men?” t’s one of those wet-dry-wet-dry days in Feb ruary. Jim Cox plops down in a chair in the office of Karen Lamica, manager of the Mult nomah County Health Department Sexually Multnomah County S T D clinic staff (from left) Karen Lamica, an out lesbian and manager of Transmitted Disease Clinic and HIV Communi the facility; openly gay office assistant R ick H olt; and Jim Cox, a gay H IV counselor ty Test Site in downtown Portland. opt for no test rather than one from a govern Lamica is an out lesbian, Cox an out gay man more holistic approach to gay men’s health and ment agency, due in part to homophobia. who shines with the light of life. well-being. “The county has done a great job of selling “We wanted to allay those fears,” says Lami “And I think it’s important to have gay and me on the county,” he bubbles. ca. lesbian people on your staff,” says Lamica, adding that from January through June 1999— A few months back, Cox was brought on as Almost immediately after C A P’s program an HIV counselor with the health department. shut down, the health department launched an before the health department started its concen trated outreach— 269 gay men came to the Before that— and for the better part of 14 effort to promote the health of gay and bi guys. county for HIV counseling and testing. years— his loyalty was with CAP. However, the A t last year’s pride festival, for example, health testing program’s closure and a staff in flux officials immunized 130 people for hepatitis A From July through November— when the and distributed literature on a wide array of sex prompted Cox to turn to the county. program was underway— the number climbed to ual health issues. “It’s been life-changing for me. The positive 349. (The December figures were not available Rather than focusing solely on HIV, the new at press time, but Lamica estimates that the full- atmosphere here has made such a difference,” he program incorporates HIV issues into a broader six month total would come closer to 420.) says, adding that his T-cell count has surged framework of health issues: hepatitis A and B while his viral load has practically evaporated. “It’s a good start,” she notes approvingly. vaccinations, testing and treatment for a spec These reflections of the county clinic’s queer ■ For information about H IV testing and other trum of sexually transmitted diseases, preven appeal resonate marvelously with Lamica. After tion education and community referrals. In all, when C A P yanked its program, some critics M ultnomah C ounty H ealth D epartment other words, the department is trying to take a expressed concerns that gay and bi men would programs, call (503) 988-3700. I S ummit S chool G ay and lesbian educators and their allies will gather for the first Oregon GLSEN Summit on March 18 in Corvallis. GLSEN stands for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a national organization with chapters throughout the country, including three in Oregon. GLSEN brings together gay and straight teachers, parents, students and concerned citizens from all walks o f life, in order to end the destructive effects of anti-gay bias in schools across the country. For some time, a Portland-area chapter was the only one in existence in the state. During the past year, however, chapters have been established in the Ashland and Eugene areas (GLSEN Southern Oregon and GLSEN Emerald Valley, respec tively). According to Ron Bloodworth of G LSEN ’s Portland-area chapter, the Oregon summit is important for a variety of reasons. “This summit will mark the first real opportunity for us to come together and network,” he says, adding that folks will have the chance to identify similarities, differences and common goals in their respective chapters, as well as strategize on statewide issues. O ne topic o f discussion will be the Oregon Citizens Alliance’s latest proposed ballot initiative, which, says Blood- worth, attacks “the heart of our work.” T he measure, dubbed the Student Protection Act, is aimed at the schools. Says Bloodworth: “We must seize the opportunity of the O C A threat to educate the public about the issues in our schools." Bob Morse of GLSEN Southern Oregon adds that critical issues like school safety will be addressed. “We know that many {sexual minority] students feel unsafe or have been harassed in their schools,” he says. “We have to keep working to combat this problem.” For more information about the summit, contact GLSEN Oregon by calling (503) 973-8489, or send an e-mail to GLSENOR@aol.com. S till S earching hough there had been some talk that the state’s largest gay rights group, Basic Rights Oregon, would have a new exec utive director installed by March 1, it was not to be. In fact, the search committee extended its deadline to Feb. 29 in order to encourage additional applications. According to B R O ’s W eekly Update, the first wave o f appli cants netted three semifinalists. However, in order for the search committee to fulfill its commitment to the board, the search was briefly extended. For the past few months, BR O has been working to fill the position left vacant by Jean Harris, who moved to California late last year. Maura Roche o f BR O tells Ju st Out it could now be another two to six weeks before a new executive director is in place. T ■ Got a news tip? Let us hear it! C ontact Just Out N ew s Editor I nga S orensen at (503) 236-1252, ext. 17, or inga@ justout.com . rkshop Maloy's ( iom mrmomtr vour commilinenl i Fine Estate and Vintage Jewelry 71 7 SW 10th Ave. Portland, Or. 97205 Tue. - Fri. 10:00am - 5:30pm, Sat. 11:00am - 5:00pm or by appointm ent d p i Voice: 503-223-472Q , Fax: 5 0 3 - 2 2 3 - 3 1 6 9 E-mail: s h a n @ t e le p o r t . c o i% i^ ^ ( j
