i I news natural foods & gourmet treats ing laws including the Americans with Disabili ties Act, which forbids job discrimination based on HIV or other disability status. A lower court dismissed Waddell’s claims in August with the erroneous conclusion that his practice as a hygienist posed a significant risk of HIV transmission to patients—something that never has happened in the history of the epi demic. In its appeal, Lambda cites the 1998 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Bragdon v. Abbott, which requires that decisions about whether health care professionals pose a signif icant risk of transmitting HIV to patients be scientifically based. OHIO A pproximately 100 HIV and AIDS patients were denied the opportunity to attend a January retreat at a Cincinnati-area Christian camp because of concerns about promoting homosexuality, the Columbus Dispatch reports Nov. 29. Woodland Lakes Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Amelia later asked for the Ohio AIDS Coalition’s forgiveness. of incarceration when sentenced in March for one count each of malicious wounding, felony wounding and misdemeanor assault. His lawyers were planning a temporary insan ity defense— claiming the attack resulted from an “irresistible impulse” that resulted from post-traumatic stress that resulted from being molested a couple of years ago— hut changed their minds just before the trial got under way. According to prosecutor Eric Olsen, Rivers first encountered the 16-year-old vic tim when they humped into each other in a hallway during summer school last year. A classmate had told Rivers the victim thought he was good-looking, so he told him, “I don’t like faggots” and later spat on him while they were riding a bus. The attack occurred several months later when Rivers and three other teens spotted the victim on their way to a theme park. Rivers, wearing a hat pulled down over his face, approached the victim from behind and struck him in the head with a metal pole as the hoy crouched near a pond while looking for tadpoles. The victim underwent brain surgery, and doctors placed a permanent metal plate in his head. As a result of the injury, he is more prone to have seizures and headaches. WISCONSIN M Executive director Kim Jackson accepted the apology but said the retreat would not be rescheduled. "It’s not in our mission to be in a facility that discriminates.” Jackson said the center offered to play host to the campers on the condition that they refrain from acting on homosexual urges. "They say they do not have hatred for them; they just can’t have people acting that way.” The center issued a news release saying, “There may have been a miscommunication” about cancellation of the retreat. "Woodland Lakes Christian Camp loves all people and strives to minister to them in a Christlike manner.” The camp’s Web site indicated mixed reactions ranging from “Thank you” to “Shame on you” and "What would Jesus do?” The cancellation outraged Perry Slone, direc tor of Beacon Fellowship, an interfaith gay advocacy group. "This is hatred of the worst kind," he said. "What part of ‘Love thy neighbor’ do those camp officials not understand.7” VIRGINIA A n 18-year-old pleaded guilty Dec. 6 to three charges stemming from the near-fatal attack of a gay teen-ager, the Richmond Times - Dispatch reports. Thomas Rivers faces a maximum 26 years any gay and bisexual men lack key information about syphilis, including how to identify signs and symptoms of the sexually transmitted dis ease, according to a study pre sented during the National ST D Prevention Conference held from Dec. 4 to 7 in Mil waukee. The study comes as increasing evidence indicates the annual incidence of syphilis and other STDs is ris ing among gay men in a num ber of U.S. cities. “Syphilis and other STDs that many have long forgot ten continue to pose a signifi cant health risk to gay men,” said Helene Gayle, Centers for Disease C on trol and Prevention National Center for HIV, ST D and T B Prevention director. “Efforts to prevent sexually transmitted diseases must be revitalized and reshaped to stop this increas ing toll.” Based on a survey of 683 men who have sex with men attending a gay event in Chica go, researchers found that 42.5 percent did not know syphilis facilitates HIV transmis sion and that 52.3 percent were unaware syphilis is increasing among gay men in some communities. The study was led by Carol Ciesielski of the Chicago Department of Health. Only 26 percent of respondents correctly identified rash as a sign of syphilis, while 61.5 percent incorrectly identified urethral discharge as a symptom. The majority of those surveyed knew that penile, oral and anal ulcers are signs of the disease. “Prevention has to begin with awareness and basic education,” the C D C ’s Ronald O. Valdiserri said. "Together with other recent reports of upswings in risk behavior and STD rates, this survey underscores an urgent need for syphilis education appropriately tailored to the gay community.’ • j n Compiled by Copy Editor JlM RADOSTA, who can be reached at jim@justout.corh. unique toys & gifts exotic collars & luxurious beds Si our own Candles 1902 ne broadway Portland, Oregon tel/503-281-2438 Schmidt LMT & Mark T € for hep ¿ c o o l A i n f + j 108 NE 28th Ave. Winter's Here!! 503-238-7793 a real stereo store for real music lovers Portland 503.335.0758 1916 NE Broadway 10-7:30 Mon-Sat & 12-5 sun ... Beaverton 503.626.0400 12300 NE Broadway 10-6:00 Mon-Sat & 12-5 sun 2627 N.E. Broadw ay/Portland/ 280-0910 www.cotton-cloud.com Gai-Piea because music matters. www.stereotypesaudio.com 2-001 Calendars Christm as ¿ ard e Dance M usic £D s £>oofcs M ags Tshirts 6r M ore! 2544 NE Broadway St. Phone 503.331.1125 Email: gaipiedl@ hom e.com No problem. PIP can handle it. * N e e d a quick run of a color brochure? O r m ass quantities of m anuals an d sales m aterials? C all us. W e can take the heat. The Right Printer. The Right People.® 424 NE Broadway Portland, OR 97232 5 0 3 .2 8 1 .8 6 6 6 Fax 5 0 3 .2 4 9 . 1 4 4 0 sales@ p ippdx.co m w w w .p ip p d x .c o m