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Publicly funded group reunites prostitution ring
(AP) — While it is common for social service
agencies to hire ex-offenders, the fact that a former
pimp convicted in connection with a crime ring
now helps run an AIDS awareness group has some
people angry.
Ralph Huey Washington, imprisoned in 1984
for racketeering and tax evasion, is president of the
board of directors at. California Prostitutes Educa
tion Project, or Cal-PEP, and apparently works
with some of the people who were involved in the
crime ring.
“This has been devastating to women, of all
color, who were trying to get their lives together,”
said Norma Hotaling, a former Cal-PEP commu
nity health outreach worker.
Hotaling said many ex-prostitutes felt threat
ened by Washington. She has filed a worker’s
compensation claim against Cal-PEP for alleged
job-related stress.
Cal-PEP was founded to educate prostitutes
about safe sex and distribute condoms. The Oak
land-based organization has received $1.6 million
in grants over the past four years.
The San Francisco Examiner reported that
Hotaling and another board member resigned
over problems they had with Washington. They
claimed he gradually began taking over the pub
licly funded organization.
Washington, 50, is identified in court records
as the longtime pimp of Gloria Jean Lockett, Cal-
PEP’s executive director. She was indicted with
him but charges later were dismissed.
Washington told the Examiner he serves as a
volunteer who seeks out potential employees,
including current and former prostitutes.
Sean Reynolds said Washington hired rela
tives and angered workers who were former pros
titutes. She resigned because of the group’s vague
spending practices.
“(Cal-PEP) is a scam and a sham, and
someone’s got to say it,” Reynolds said.
Some said Cal-PEP had erred in allowing
Washington to hold a key role in the group.
“There are much betterpeople than the fox to
watch the hen house," said Evalina Giobbe, who
runs WHISPER, a prostitutes’ recovery group in
Minnesota. “We don’t ask men convicted of rape to
run the rape crisis line. We don’t ask convicted
batterers to run the battered women shelter."
During his federal trial, prosecutors alleged
that Washington ran massage parlors and brothels
in California, Nevada, Texas, Arizona, Hawaii and
Alaska. Prostitutes testified that they were forced to
give him all their money and that they were beaten
if they resisted.
Washington served three years in prison and
forfeited more than $1 million in property after he
was convicted of racketeering and tax evasion.
Cal-PEP’s chief financial officer, Freddie Jean
Goins, served 18 months in prison in connection
with Washington’s ring, the Examiner reported. At
least four other Cal-PEP associates also were charged
along with Washington, the paper said.
Lockett and Washington said the backgrounds
of Cal-PEP directors are common knowledge and
that funding sources don’t object. Lockett also said
Washington was wrongly convicted and was never
a pimp.
“The government made it to be a lot worse than
it ever was," Lockett said.
Both also said allegations amounted to racism
against Cal-PEP’s leadership, which is mostly black.
Cal-PEP has received grants from such donors
as the San Francisco AIDS Office, the Alameda
County Health Care Services Agency, the U.S. Cen
ters for Disease Control and Prevention and other
public agencies, state records show.
The Examiner reviewed public records show
ing most agencies that gave grants to Cal-PEP
concluded it effectively educated prostitutes about
AIDS. In its files, Cal-PEP has numerous letters of
support from public officials.
But the most recent state Department of Health
evaluation shows Cal-PEP fell short of fiscal 1992
goals, The Examiner reported.
The state report, dated May 3, cited the
organization’s promise to enroll 180 partners of
prostitutes in safe-sex workshops or support groups
in fiscal 1992. It reached only 18 in the first six
months.
It was to enroll 425 teen prostitutes in tflV
awareness sessions, but reached 56 by the first half
of the year.
Lockett said her agency submitted year-end
figures indicating Cal-PEP had, in most cases, met
90 percent of its goals. State AIDS officials said they
do not have that report.^
Living with HIV?
Support is available
at the Center.
ATLANTA
GAY©
CENTER.
PLUS (Positive Living Under Stress) is a
group for anyone who has taken the
HIV antibody test and tested positive,
or is otherwise HIV affected. PLUS is a
place to talk and share with others—to
express your feelings and get informa
tion. It’s completely free of charge and
totally confidential. PLUS meets Fridays
at 8:00 pm.
The PLUS Groups meet at the
Atlanta Gay Center, 63 Twelfth St.,
or call 876-5372 for information.
PIUS
Groups
tPage 24
Fall 1993