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AID Atlanta
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was to allow for "flexibility... and course
collections."
In his July 18th letter Silverman asked that
a new proposal be submitted, and that the
signatures of all AID Atlanta Board members
as well as those of the grant's subcontractors
appear on the proposal.
The Phase II Proposal covers the two years
remaining on the original grant and involves
the dispersal of more than $800,000 for AIDS
care in Atlanta. AID Atlanta administers the
program; Grady Memorial Hospital and the
Visiting Nurses Association are the primary
subcontractors. One of the major purposes of
the grant is to create model program which
will lower the costs of caring for people with
AIDS (PWAs) by providing as much out
patient care as is possible.
Silverman's letters would seem to indicate
the presence of problems deeper than the
"common mid-course corrections" claimed by
Batson. The April 9th letter stated, "It is
extremely important that we remind you that
your organization will need to show
considerable improvement in the areas cited
to be considered for continued funding."
Among the problems noted by Silverman
and his staff were a lack of communication
between AID Atlanta, its sub-contractors and
the community; a "very low" staff morale
attributable to poor internal communication
and management style, not excessive work
load; the lack of follow-through on past
recommendations from Program officials,
including calls for a minority task force and
an active Advisory Committee; poor
documentation; no clear goals or objectives
on how to deal with housing and long-term
care needs of PWAs; and inadequate
communication from the AID Atlanta
management to the Program office.
Batson and Gamer did not seem deeply
concerned when the July 18 letter, returning
the Phase II Proposal, was made public.
When the letter was discussed during a board
meeting, Batson referred to Silverman and the
site review team as "academicians" who
knew nothing of management Donald Smith,
PhD, Secretary of the Board, suggested that
the board not take a confrontational stance,
and instead,"... turn totally Southern... and be
sweetly manipulative."
Developing a clear picture of the situation
is virtually impossible since no one with
access to information is willing to make
statements for attribution. Several sources
within the agency have stated, independently
of each other, that Batson has threatened to
sue anyone from the agency who discussed
current problems with the press. Detractors
say this threat lends credence to other
statements which paint pictures of a
Machiavellian management style at AID
Atlanta.
Batson, in turn, refuses to answer
criticisms from sources who demand
anonymity, dismissing such statements as
hearsay and gossip. The documents received
by Southern Voice appear to be genuine, but
other than Silverman's letter, we have no
guarantee of their veracity.
The reworked Phase II Proposal has been
completed, and was approved by the Board of
Directors late Friday evening. AID Atlanta
has also asked for letters of support from
community groups, other funding sources and
local governmental agencies to accompany
the proposal. The reaction to the request has
reportedly been mixed, ranging from negative
to neutral to unqualified support.
When asked why an organization that feels
negatively about the way AID Atlanta's
community outreach is administered would
write any letter at all, one source cited the
realities of providing services to PWAs
without RWJ funding, and added, "No one
wants to be known as the group that did
anything to hurt AID Atlanta."
-Chris Duncan
Circle K Says No Coverage for
"Personal Lifestyle" Illnesses
Phoenix, AZ-Officials with the Circle K
Corporation have been inundated with calls
and letters of complaints while AIDS and
gay/lesbian activists have organized protests
around the country in response to an
insurance policy the company issued in
January. The new policy stated that the
company would not cover employee's
medical expenses that resulted from
"personal-lifestyle choices"-which includes
AIDS, treatments and illnesses arising from
alcoholism or drug abuse, or self-inflicted
wounds.
The newly-formed AIDS Coalition To
Unleash Power/Atlanta (ACT UP/Atlanta)
flexed their muscles in response to the policy
and tied up phone lines all day Tuesday at
Circle K's district office here, with over 300
phone calls demanding that the company
change its policy.
Circle K's insurance program, called
"KareChoice", differs from most work-related
health insurance, in that the company pays the
medical expenses rather than use a third party
insurer. Because of that subtle distinction,
Circle K is not bound by Arizona state law
which prohibits the use of "personal lifestyle"
as a gauge of insurability.
According to Charles Shoemaker, Circle
K's vice president for human resources, the
policy simply reflects a cost-saving effort on
the part of the company. "We felt we had to
take certain steps to help contain our medical
costs, and we felt that this was one thing we
could do."
Although AIDS has been used as a red
flag by insurance companies looking to
exclude high-risk categories of people from
eligibility, studies have found that no
significant danger of sky rocketing AIDS-
related claims exists. At press time, it
appeared that Circle K management had
changed their position slightly, and were
willing to negotiate on the policy.
- Chris Duncan
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Atlanta Lesbians & Gays Join
Ranks Against Anti-Abortionists
Members of LEGAL (Legislate Equality
for Gays and Lesbians) joined forces with
Georgia NOW (National Organization of
Women), GARAL (Georgia Abortion Rights
Action League) and other pro-choice
supporters August 6th to assist at Midtown
Hospital where more than 150 anti-abortion
protesters attempted to disrupt activities at the
clinic.
"It's good to see gays and lesbians out for
an issue other than gays and lesbians," said
Melinda Daniels, a LEGAL member who
joined with other pro-choice activists to form
a human chain which prevented protesters
from getting too close to the hospital. "I
believe this is an excellent opportunity (for the
gay and lesbian community) to build
coalitions with NOW and NARAL (National
Ahortion Riehts Action League!."
their rights end there."
Pro-choice supporters also served as
patient escorts. Each patient was greeted by
at least three escorts a block away, and then
walked to the hospital. While the escorts
provided physical protection, protesters
continued to press around the patient, hurling
verbal abuse and shouting phrases such as
"Don't kill your baby," and "You are being
exploited."
Nathan Schiff, an activist who has been
involved with the pro-choice movement for
seven years, went into an epileptic seizure
after being knocked down by a protester
while he was escorting a patient
"Someone walked right through me,”
Schiff said. "I ended up falling down
backwards and hitting my head on the
navement I hapnenpd to he someone who
Lesbians and gays join the front ranks in fight for women's reproductive freedom
The August 6th protest at Midtown
Hospital was the culmination of a series of
Atlanta protests organized by the national
group, Operation Rescue, since the
Democratic National Convention in late July.
Protests continued through the week of
August 8th.
Protesters were arrested and charged with
various offenses including criminal
trespassing, obstructing a sidewalk and giving
false names. Randall Terry, national
Operation Rescue leader was released on
$ 10,000 bond August 9th after he was charged
with being party to a crime and conspiracy to
commit a crime for leading illegal protest
actions.
"There are always two sides to an issue and
the abortion opponents have a right to express
their views," said Pete Duttweiler, another
LEGAL member of the human chain. "But I
have seen these people (the protesters) heap
personal, direct, emotional abuse on women
and their families. I think that's wrong and
got in her (the protester's) way.”
Nonetheless, all patients who came to the
hospital August 6th were seen. 'Patients are
not deterred by the protesters," said Lynn
Wilson, GARAL president "Some may
reschedule, but they are not deterred."
Elizabeth Appley, Midtown Hospital
attorney, added, "It's a burden on the
operation of the business, but the Atlanta
Police have worked hard and normal
operations have proceeded. Demonstrators
have not succeeded in closing any clinic."
Wilson said she believes the presence of
LEGAL members at the protests indicated a
real coalition between civil rights groups.
"When a woman's right to reproductive
freedom is endangered, the next step might be
further infringement of gay and lesbian rights.
When you have a group like Operation
Rescue that is so adamant about denying
people their civil rights, it brings out all who
want to protect civil rights," Wilson said.
- Sharon D. Blalock
Coming this fall from SAME
Secrets
A new lesbian love story by Rebecca Ranson
Tim Miller
L.A.'s hot performance artist in a benefit for SAME
Lynn Lavner & Doug Lothes
America's most politically incorrect performers
For Love & For Life II
SAME'S Christmas gift to lesbian & gay Atlanta
for information call 584-2104
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CHRIS DUNCAN