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9th and 10th Senators Join Fight for Gay/Lesbian Rights Washington, D.C.-Two more senators have signed on as co-sponsors of the Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Bill now making its way through the U.S. Senate. The new co-sponsors, Senators Barbara Milkulski (D-Md.) and John Chafee (R-R>I>) bring the bill's sponsors in the Senate to a total of ten. Introduced by Sen. Alan Cranston (D- Calif.) in early 1987, the bill would give gays and lesbians legal protection against discrimination in employment housing, public accommodations, and federally assisted programs. "Equal opportunity must be guaranteed to all Americans," said Senator Chafee, the second Republican co-sponsor of the bill. "To discriminate against individuals because of race, sex, age or sexual orientation is to deny them their civil rights." Eric Rosenthal, political director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, praised both senators for signing on as co-sponsors, saying, "We now have 10 percent of the U.S. Senate signed up for civil rights protection for 10 percent of America - the millions of gay men and women who deserve to be treated with full equality." International AIDS Conference Offers No New Answers Stockholm-The Fourth International Conference on AIDS held in Stockholm this month yielded no breakthroughs but offered several important progress reports in the fight against HFV. Robert C. Gallo of the National Cancer Institute reported that the human herpes virus HHV-6 appears to accelerate the cell-killing effect of HIV. Gallo speculated that anti herpes drugs might play an important role in therapies against AIDS. (Many physicians already routinely prescribe the anti-herpes drug acyclovir [Zovirax] to persons taking AZT.) More than 90 studies were presented on AZT, the only drug approved against AIDS in the United States. Several studies confirmed the growing belief among some researchers that the earlier AZT is administered in the course of HIV infection, the more benefits patients might possibly derive from it. Dr. Anthony J. Pinching of St Mary's Hospital in London concluded that AZT "seems to delay the onset of more severe immunodeficiency". Studies also indicate that persons may receive the same benefits from a significantly lower dose of AZT as from the currently prescribed large dose, thus potentially lessening side-effects such as anemias requiring blood transfusions. This is promising news to researchers who advocate "early intervention" treatments for persons positive for HIV but not yet ill (such as persons with steadily declining T-cells). And scientists at the Cetus Corporation have developed a test using gene amplification that can identify HIV infection in infants as young as two-days-old. As drug therapies are developed the test will permit doctors to begin treatments immediately. -Terry Francis Successful Anti Homophobia Conference Spurs New Activism Chevy Chase, MD -The first Global Conference to End Homophobia, held here in late May, brought together more than 100 leaders in the field of homophobia education to discuss the problem. Organized by the Campaign to End Homophobia, a group made up of members of the National Organization for Changing Men, the conference drew together activists, educators, media professionals, clergy and others to share ideas and strategies for promoting more positive images of gays and lesbians. "The solution to the problem of homophobia is education," said Joe Norton, a longtime gay activist and original board member of the National Gay Task Force. "It always has been and always will be. But it's not enough to simply identify the solution - something has to be done to effect it. Now it becomes important to send the message and expand the work worldwide." Plans are now underway for a second conference to be held next summer. Immigration and AIDS Bills Duck Latest Republican Attacks Washington, D.C. -A bill which repeals anti-gay and lesbian immigration provisions, and two designed to improve federal AIDS policy are now ready to be heard on the floor of the House of Representatives. All three bills survived attempts by Republican legislators to attach hostile amendments to them while in committee. H.R. 4227, the immigration bill, repeals provisions used to prevent gays and lesbians from visiting or immigrating to the U.S. Rep. William Dannemeyer (R-Calif.) proposed an amendment which would have continued to allow immigration authorities to keep "sexual deviants" - i.e, gays and lesbians - out of the country. A bill called "AIDS Counseling and Testing," which would provide $400 million per year for three years to fund confidential, voluntary counseling and testing, was the target of eight proposed Dannemeyer amendments, including ones calling for mandatory name reporting, prison testing, notification of spouses, and reduced breach of confidentiality penalties. All were defeated, although he did succeed earlier in attaching an amendment barring recipients of funds from providing counseling that promoted "homosexual activity." The "AIDS Research" bill, H.R. 4850, is similar to the research portion of the Senate's recently passed AIDS Research, Education and Care Act, which reduces bureaucratic delays and authorizes spending for AIDS research, education and care. Rep. Edward Madigan (R-Ill.) proposed an amendment which would have cut the bill's provision for additional federal AIDS research personnel, but was defeated. Human Rights Campaign Fund communications director Robert Bray called the results "a three-way win for the gay and AIDS community." Gay/Lesbian Rights and AIDS Issues Included in Democrats' Platform Washington, D.C. -As Democrats put the finishing touches on their 1988 party platform, Human Rights Campaign Fund communications director Robert Bray called the document "a victory for the gay and lesbian community." HRCF and other gay/lesbian groups had feared that Democratic Party Chairman Paul Kirk's insistence on a shorter platform than in 1984 would leave their issues out in the cold. The platform is now near its final form, except for some minor tinkering, and runs only 13 pages, but covers civil rights for gays and lesbians, and the AIDS issue. On the subject of civil rights, the platform says, "We believe that equal access to government services, employment housing, business enterprises, and education should be assured in this multi-cultural.society to every citizen, regardless of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, handicapping condition, or sexual orientation." The platform's position on AIDS is "about as detailed as you can gef" Bray said. "We were very pleased with how comprehensive and detailed it is." Specifically, it says, "We believe that the HIV/AIDS crisis must be recognized as a public health priority requiring increased support for expedited research on treatments and vaccines, comprehensive education and prevention, compassionate patient care, adoption of the public health community's consensus on voluntary testing and counseling, and protection for civil rights of those suffering from AIDS/ARC or testing positive for the HIV antibody." Disappointments for activists included the absence of the words "gay and lesbian” from the document and its failure to address other issues such as hate crimes and legal sanctioning of gay and lesbian relationships. Although Bray admitted "we wanted more," he said the groundwork had been laid. "What we have is a good foundation upon which to build future successes for other issues," he said. "The Democrats, and the Republicans, arc listening to us, hearing what we have to say. I think this platform proves that the gay and lesbian community is making very strong progress in mainstream American politics." -David Tucker Interracial Newsletter Begins Publication San Francisco - A new newsletter for gay men interested in interracial and cross-cultural relationships is now being published here. Called tire Quarterly Interchange, the newsletter will publish personal advertisements, as well as articles on subjects such as interracial experiences. For more information, write to Quarterly Interchange, P.O. Box 42502, i>an Francisco, CA 94101. it's Happening one Mo' time at DEANA'S ONE MO' TIME 1890 Cheshire Bridge Road Atlanta • (404) 874-0980 GEORGIA HOUSE NO. 46 SUNDAY JULY 10 Dick Rhodes Fundraiser! Barbeque Shows at 9 to 11 Tickets For more information call mm liii SOTTHF.RN VOCE Name Subscription Order Form [~]$28.00 per year | t 'PWA-Free I Address I City 111 State ZIP ■ Amount Enclosed $ III I I I 111 I I I I I I I Page 2