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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2005)
s WS out limited programs covering the topic [“Oregon Public Broadcasting Is Not Feeling the Pride,” June 3]. 1, too, was hoping there would be some recognition of GLBT Month. I was anticipating when reading the radio article “A Discussion About Democracy ON PRINCIPLE” that there would be at least some mention of the unfair and unequal treatment GLBT people face. This would have been very fitting to include, since the article was addressing the heart of the American experience vis-à-vis the “Declara tion of Independences bold insistence that all men are created equal...public dis course...principles [that] affect our own lives.” 1 truly believe that as part of the American experience, GLBT people’s experience needs to be addressed, too. Even though I think OPB is overall doing a go<xi job, 1 don’t think it is gtxxl enough for me to continue to be a member. So, with dis appointment I am requesting that you dis continue my membership as well. G ustavo W ong behavior of HIV-positive gay men. Laws against spreading HIV have also proven ineffective as a deterrent. With the exception of exchanging clean needles with drug users, the only other way to stop HIV-positive individuals from infecting others is to increase their level of altni- ism. Not only is this hard to do, but for this strategy to work, everyhxly must he tested for HIV. I think much of the HIV problem could be solved if sexually graphic educational material that included gay sex was presented to all eighth-grade schoolchildren as part of a com prehensive sex education program. Children need to be trained before they become infected or pregnant. It is sad that this common-sense method of stopping HIV and abortions is being obstructed by Christian-Republicans. T homas K raemer Corvallis Sten walks the talk To the E ditor : our June 17 story on Portland City Com missioner Sten failed to mention his viKal support for equal marriage rights for all has been New HIV prevention matched by his actions [“Erik Sten Comes methods Out”]. For several years Freedom to Marry Day To the E ditor : has been celebrated throughout the nation and n advertising insert in the June 17 Just Out locally. warned that federally funded HIV preven Before Multnomah and Benton County tion efforts in Portland will be required to commissioners decided to issue marriage licens choose from a list of science-based programs es to all couples, Mr. Sten’s office sponsored a called DEBIs (Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Freedom to Marry Day celebration at Portland Interventions) and focus on HIV-positive indi City Hall in February 2004. He and his staff viduals. The ad did not mention that the gov helped me and the organizers of the event cut ernment’s new “Advancing HIV Prevention” through bureaucratic red tape. In February strategy (www.cdc.gov/hiv/partners/ahp.htm ) is 2005, Mr. Sten’s office again sponsored the cel collaborating with a private organization ebration in City Hall, and he gave an eloquent (www.effectiveinterventions.org) to provide speech about marriage equality at the event. training. Throughout his public career, Mr. Sten has For more than 20 years, the focus has been been an advocate for LGBT rights. The fact that on keeping HIV-negative men uninfected. he failed to share these facts with your reporter But to save money, federal funding must now reveals that, unlike many politicians, his desire be used to identify HIV-positive individuals is to focus on working for civil rights for all, and stop them from infecting other people. rather than highlighting his personal accom These budget cuts are being made by our anti- plishments. Mr. Sten continues to be an ally and gay Christian-Republican government while advocate for the LGBT community. it is diverting hillions of dollars to Christian missionary groups in Africa for fighting AIDS C ecil C harles P rescod and supposedly not for proselytizing against Portland homosexuals. However, despite the divisive anti-gay poli Who are these tics of Christian-Republicans, new methcxJs are sorely needed. Public health scientists often “Everyday People”? compare community-level HIV interventions to To the E ditor : his was the first year I attended the Pride those targeted at other life-threatening health parade. My partner of 28 years and 1 issues such as obesity and smoking. The positive results from all of these programs have been watched with joy together the many entrants who passed by our vantage point. We went meager compared to the effort expended. The DEBI programs are a sincere science home thinking how much more vibrant this based effort, but there are only 12 programs parade was than the many we saw in Dallas (our available. I read the scientific papers behind previous home) in years past. Last evening while chatting with some these programs at a university library and found friends, one straight friend remarked how sterile them to be very unsatisfying. Surprisingly, 10 of the 12 DEBI programs the print media were on Monday. She heard were designed specifically for HIV-negative that Darcelle was asked not to attend the individuals. And there is scant scientific evi parade, and others noted that some of the bars dence that any DEBI program will discourage were not represented. We hadn’t noticed either HIV-positive individuals from infecting other of those deletions being as new as we are, but 1 thought, “Have these been removed so that we people. Only two of the 12 DEBI programs were can promote ‘Everyday People’?” I surely hope not, for we are one and all designed specifically for gay men. The “Mpow- erment Project” was developed 10 years ago “everyday people" only when we accept <xir with HIV-negative young gay men in Eugene. brother/sister as eqqal to us in every right and The other program was designed for owners and privilege. I pray that this is true and that the patrons of gay bars or public sex venues. No absence of one of Portland’s true gay historians DEBI program has fully accounted for the effect was for other reasons. of anti-HIV drugs, which have made AIDS B ill F ry appear to be as manageable as diabetes. I doubt any DEBI program will change the Portland Portland A Ilfâhkf Ch r is tine I Mike, Bruce and Our Hot Tubbing Corgi: "A/ter talking with other lenders, we were very frustrated with the reception we received on our bankruptcy. We'd met Christine at the Pride Festival and decided to give her a call. Lin I ike the others, she worked with us to improve our credit file and then came through with financing where others told us it couldn't be done. Today we live in a 1246 sq. ft. ranch with a huge back yard and 3 corgis. We're very thankful to Christine and know that she is our lender for life. " 503.698.5429 503.301.1941 Pager halldtoeaglehomemortgage.com Christine Hall Senior Loan Consultant President's Club We’ve Added a Few More Curves to the River... 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