Top national and world news since last issue you should know

BY CRAIG OGAN

Fauci, an HIV/AIDS hero

These days it doesn’t take much to get teary-eyed after three whiskies during a Zoom cocktail party, so when the CDC’s Dr. Anthony Fauci referred to his efforts in the 1980s and 90s to find therapies and fight the stigma of HIV/ AIDS, turned on the water works. In the White House daily briefing on the Covid-19 problems he said, “As some of you know, a greater portion of my career has been defined by HIV/AIDS.”

During that time, there was extraordinary stigma, particularly against the gay community and it was only when the world realized how the gay community responded to this outbreak with incredible courage and dignity and strength and activism, I think that really changed some of the stigma against the gay community.” At 79-years old he is still in the fight and still a hero.

NYC tent hospital, holier than thou

A group called Samaritan’s Purse put up a hospital tent in NYC’s Central Park to help while brick and mortar hospitals dealt with Coronavirus patients. Samaritan’s Purse is sponsored by the Billy Graham Ministries, run by evangelist Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy. To work at the tent, medical personnel are required to be “Christian” and adhere to the Ministry’s “statement of faith” defining marriage as “exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female”. Graham defends the requirement for volunteers adhere to an anti-LGBT pledge.

Says Graham, “We have a long list of things we want people to understand and agree with before we take them to work with us.” Listing the use of drugs and alcohol, swearing, or someone who is “trying to pick up girls” as well as belief in marriage inequality as being on the list. “So, we try to screen the people that work with us,” he said. “And we want men and women who believe the way we do and have the same core values that we have.”

‘Young Man’ go to U.S. Library of Congress

“Y.M.C.A.,” the 1978 gay disco anthem by the Village People, has been inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry. The library says of the song, “Now, over 40 years since it hit the streets and the dance floors, ‘Y.M.C.A.,’ their biggest hit, is an American cultural phenomenon — people from all walks of life do the ‘Y.M.C.A.’ dance at weddings, Bar Mitzvahs or sporting events. It is as likely to be heard at a Midwestern prom as it is at New York City’s annual Gay Pride parade.”

Broken Record

Ramzon Kadyrov, the leader of the southern Russian republic of Chechnya behind the systematic detention, torture, and killing of gay men, has called for people with Covid-19 who don’t self-quarantine and spread the disease to be killed. Business Insider reports: “The threat was immediately taken as credible in Russian media circles because of Kadyrov’s long history of crushing political dissent, and allegedly murdering people who displease him since he took near-total control.”

Mayor Pete’s beard, still news

Photoshopped images showing a bearded Pete Buttigieg surfaced during the campaign inspiring calls of “Mayor Woof” for president. With his state’s stay-at-home order in response to the coronavirus crisis former-Mayor Pete grew the real thing. He said during an Instagram Live broadcast, “Obviously, I’ve taken advantage of the simple fact of not having to shave every day,” Buttigieg added. “We’ll see if that [the beard] lasts. I’m valuing the chance to be at home, the chance to spend time with Chasten.” His other beard, Amy Klobushar, is still in the running for vice president, as the putative candidate for Pres says he’ll choose a woman for his VP candidate.

Gay men blood ban eased

A drop in the nation’s blood supply triggered by the coronavirus outbreak prompted a change in government restrictions on blood donations from gay men and other groups. The FDA policy for men who have sex with men and the women who have sex with them required no sexual contacts for one year. It now requires just three months of chastity. The policy is the same for people receiving tattoos and piercings within the last three months.

Virginia offers LGBT protections

Virginia becomes the first state of the old Confederacy to have a law specifically protecting sexual orientation and gender identity from discrimination. The Virginia Values Act passed by the state legislature earlier this year, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s current civil rights laws.

Good news in the time of coronavirus

The non-profit, non-partisan Public Religion Research Institute has been surveying public opinion on gay and lesbian issues since 2011. In 2019 the term LGBT was used in place of “Gay & Lesbian” and reports increasing and broad support for LGBT equality across the United States. 72% of respondents, including majorities of both political parties, religious groups, and nearly every major demographic group — favor laws that would protect LGBT people against discrimination in jobs, public accommodations, and housing. Support for marriage equality continues to grow with 62% support in 2019, versus 53% in 2015.