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
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503.698.5429
503.301.1941 Pager
halldtoeaglehomemortgage.com
Christine Hall
Senior Loan Consultant
President's Club
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