Just out., October 19, 2001, Page 17, Image 17

oclobflf 19. 2001
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T he O ther R ose C ity
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op S
formerly /\lanieJti Tuxedo
Douglas County AIDS Council thrives despite conservative climate
Deborrah Drorbaugh • owner
by P a tr ic ia L . M a c A o d h a
4512 NE Sandy Blvd. • Portland, OR 97213
s Oregon communities go, Rose-
B oth groups fear and distrust authority.”
burg is a fair-sized town with a
Outreach meetings were held throughout
strong rural flavor. The atmosphere
the state to gather testimony regarding name-
is conservative, but the gay and les­
based reporting. In Douglas County, three dis­
bian population is significant.
cussions addressed the issue.
In 1986, the Rosehurg A ID S Task Force
Russo says gay and lesbian citizens desire priva­
formed to look at how people living with
cy because they fear detection, violence, job loss
and rejection by family and friends— hut mostly
HIV/AIDS in Douglas County could best be
served and how to begin educating this southern
because it’s none of their neighbors’ business. “All
too often, we are the focus of their attention.”
Oregon community. Som e of those original
members are still hard at work.
T h e policy recently was changed to allow for
modification of the name to create a unique
Billy Russo is one of the people who has been
helping strengthen services for years.
As Douglas County A ID S Council
executive director, he and his deter­
mined staff, many of whom are vol­
unteers, have been able to develop a
successful program focused on client
' I < « VJ
services, outreach to the gay and les­
' • :$^*>**:v*l*l*K- :<M ‘ f.ÿx * :
lîw w rric - ! » • •
bian community and the Positive
' ’ NW î ' H 1 */
Speakers in the Schools program.
Each program was developed in
direct response to challenges faced
by local people living with
HIV/AIDS: eviction from living
quarters; utility and telephone shut­
offs; inability to keep and find work;
lack of food, clothing and
In addition to serving as
medical care; and prob­
Douglas County A ID S
lems with intravenous • C hop * >
Council executive director,
drug use, alcoholism and
Billy R usso also writes for its
domestic violence. A l-
Uhimt
newsletter, Work in Progress
though these needs tran-
VZ
scend urban/rural differ­
identifier in cases where the client
ences, the concerns of
is severely concerned about confi­
Douglas County citizens
dentiality. Russo thinks the state
are not the same as those
should “use unique identifiers
in Multnomah County.
across the board.”
Providing HIV/AIDS
Nevertheless, the council pro­
services, Russo says, “has
vides an impressive list of services
a powerful charge associ­
to people living with HIV/AIDS
ated with it. Ignorance
and their families. Financial assis­
and intolerance fuel this
tance for housing, transportation
charge. It wasn’t that
long ago that three ch il­
and food are just a few ways the
agency helps clients out.
dren in Florida had their home torched when
More than 15 years of HIV/AIDS work in
their H IV status was revealed.”
the Roseburg area has brought about many
Russo says noncooperation from Douglas
changes, including the closure of Ruby House, a
County’s health officer has resulted in limited
funds and made improvement and expansion of
Level III adult foster home. Mercy Hospital now
provides these services.
services difficult. T h e departments autonomously
And it seems another change is in the mak­
choose how their money is spent; administrators
ing. A recent advertisement in Roseburg’s
call the shots, and HIV/AIDS programs often suf­
N ews-Review offered the position of executive
fer because of that privilege. But last year the
director for the Douglas County A ID S Council.
council received its first-ever allocation of federal
Is Russo calling it quits? O f course not! He
funding for risk reduction of infection.
points out that he has held the position since
“In Douglas County, H IV is perceived as a
January 1998 and that he’s ready for someone
gay disease,” Russo says. “Public health promotes
else to do it.
this perception by simply not addressing the
“My actual job is case manager and gay/bi
issue. Homophobia contributes to a perceived
outreach
worker,” he says. "I do administration
second-class status for people living with HIV.”
on the side...hate it!”
Douglas County client demographics show a
Russo acknowledges his best work is and
significant presence of HIV/AIDS through hetero­
always has been with the people for whom he
sexual and perinatal transmission. According to
struggles with enthusiastic determ ination.
statistics gathered between April 1 and June 29,
W hen it comes to fighting HIV/AIDS and the
eight out of 35 cases were exposed through hetero­
attitudes that do so much harm, the world could
sexual contact, two through perinatal transmission.
use a lot more Billy Russos. J H
A statewide issue is the Oregon Health Divi­
sion’s recent decision to pursue name-based H IV
For more information about the DOUGLAS
reporting. Russo says anonymity has been a key
C o unty A ID S C ouncil call 541-440-2761, fax
to getting people to agree to testing.
5 4 1 -440-9665, send e-mail to dcac@presys.com or
He opposes the adm inistrative rule m ak­
visit the Internet site ivmv.hivroseburg.org.
ing H IV rep ortab le like tu bercu losis or
syphilis because it will affect “our ability to
P atricia L. M a c A odha is a Portland free-lance
screen [in jectin g drug usersj and gay men.
writer. E-mail her at phnacaodhal@ hotm ail.com .
B oth groups live on th e margins o f society.
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M em ber S IP C