Philly LGBT leaders of color show up in force at first BOLD event, held in Minneapolis PAGE 5
Family Portrait: Roberta Gallaway
Local LGBT publishers strategize for a hard-copy future
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Dec. 23-29, 2011
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Vol. 35 No. 51
AIDS orgs take huge prevention funding hit
PA legislature gets first-ever LGBT caucus By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com More than two-dozen members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly are stepping up to the plate for LGBT equality. The state legislature announced this week that it has formed an LGBT Equality Caucus, comprised of 26 members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate, a first for the state. The caucus, first proposed earlier this year by Equality Pennsylvania, will serve as a resource for lawmakers and the public on LGBT issues. “This is the first time there would be a consistent voice within the legislature,” said Ted Martin, executive director of Equality PA. “It’s finally a statement that LGBT rights have a place at the table and are going to be discussed.” Rep. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.) and Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th Dist.) will serve as co-chairs. Frankel has been the prime sponsor of the LGBT nondiscrimination bill and Leach, the state’s first marriage-equality bill. Frankel said the caucus members will work to advance such measures but will also be heavily focused on education. “We have a vigorous agenda, but it’s an agenda that we’re not in a position to move forward at this time given that conservative members of the Republican caucus control both chambers,” Frankel said. “But at the end of the day, many of us understand that things will only happen with persistence and a sustained effort. So we want to educate our colleagues and the citizens of Pennsylvania about why it’s important for Pennsylvania, for a myriad of reasons, to support these LGBT equality measures. That’s the most important aspect of this.” Leach said the caucus will work to eliminate the “misconceptions and erroneous factual suppositions” that abound about the LGBT community and will also see that the public is kept aware of where legislators stand on LGBT issues. “We want to make sure that LGBT issues are getting the attenPAGE 15
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
GOODBYE TO A LEADER: About 100 people gathered for a repast Dec. 16 at the William Way LGBT Community Center to remember the life of Robert Burns, executive director of The Colours Organization Inc. Burns died Dec. 8 at age 36. He spent his career working in the HIV-prevention field in both Cleveland and Philadelphia, serving as director of The Collective before joining Colours’ staff. He also previously served as executive director of House of Blahnik and deejayed many of the ballroom community’s events. The Colours board plans to discuss the leadership of the organization at a January meeting. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Philly, minorities see highest HIV testing rates in the region By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A new report released by the Public Health Management Corporation this month found that about one-third of Philadelphians were tested for HIV in 2010, with testing most common in African Americans and those living in poverty. The data, drawn from PHMC’s HIV testing by county Community Health Data Base Tested in 2010 2010 Southeastern Pennsylvania 70% Never tested Household Health Survey, revealed 60% that 30.4 percent of Philadelphians over age 18 were tested for the dis50% ease last year. Through the entire Southeastern 40% Pennsylvania region, about 21.5 30% percent of adults — or 619,000 people — were tested last year, an 20% increase from 18 percent in 2008. Testing last year was more com10% mon in Philadelphia than in the Bucks Chester Del. Mont. Phila. four surrounding counties, with Source: PHMC Community Health Data Base rates at 20.8 percent, 15.4 percent, 2010 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey
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The AIDS Activities Coordinating Office announced the recipients of a funding program for HIV-prevention efforts this week, and a number of local HIV/AIDS service organizations were absent from the list. The High-Impact HIV Prevention Services awards, funded by the Centers for Disease Control, totaled about $2.8 million, split among 15 agencies, compared with 22 in the most recent cycle. According to the CDC, the High-Impact Prevention efforts use “combinations of scientifically proven, cost-effective and scalable interventions” targeted to certain populations to reduce new HIV infections and work to maximize prevention efforts among those most at risk, including gay and bisexual men and transgender men and women. The funding is divided into six categories: testing in health-care settings, targeted testing, social network strategy testing, comprehensive prevention with positives, health education/risk reduction and local intervention. According to a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the CDC this cycle shifted emphasis from health education/risk reduction for HIVnegative individuals to the other testing categories and efforts with those who are HIV-positive. The PDPH said that 33 agencies submitted 73 proposals for consideration for the funding and that “past performance” was a key criteria in selecting the awardees. Among the agencies that received the funding, those focused specifically on the LGBT community are Mazzoni Center, SafeGuards, Prevention Point Philadelphia’s Trans-Health Information Project and The Attic Youth Center. Agencies that did not receive funding for the next cycle included Action AIDS and The Colours Organization Inc. Mazzoni received a PAGE 16