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 .
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