Bay Times & Olivia Pride Page 17
Pop Rox Page 14
Pride Photo Round-Up Page 7
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July 12-26, 2012 | www.sfbaytimes.com
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PHOTO CREDIT: THE BOB MIZER FOUNDATION
Saving the Boys of Summer
The Bob Mizer Foundation is preserving the archives of its trailblazing photographer namesake. The foundation needs support to finance the cataloguing, filing and storage of more than 1,000,000 negatives, slides, prints and films. For more examples of Mizer’s work, see pages 10 and 11.
Affordable Care Act & LGBT Health
Timeless Pride By: Gary Virginia Editor’s Note: Many of us at the Bay Times were moved by SF Pride Community Grand Marshal Gary Virginia’s memorable, inspirational remarks at the Pride Brunch for Positive Resource Center, June 23, 2012. Below is an excerpt. At age 52, I’m soon approaching the time where half of my life has been marked by HIV. In many ways it has served me well. Physical symptoms often reflect our thought patterns, as explained in the groundbreaking book, You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. Through my experience with AIDS, I have learned to love and appreciate myself unconditionally, release any shame and sexual guilt, and understand that I am powerful and capable. At mid-life, I believe my best years are ahead of me, and choose to be an example of a gay man aging with grace, dignity and power, while always having a good time! Being in the esteemed company of everyone on this stage makes me realize that American culture today confuses fame with accomplishment. Each of us has had the limelight shine our way, and one of the beauties of living in San Francisco is the potential to be a big fish in a small pond. But collectively this group of individuals has had far-reaching impact beyond the ripples of our shores. Whether it be Gilbert Baker’s globally recognized rainbow flag, or groundbreaking legislation to combat discrimination by Willie Brown, these women and men acted to further the ideal of a more equitable world.
Of note to our youth and society is that the fame was not based on how fabulous Sr. Roma looked, or how many friends we had on Facebook, but based on the bravery to stand up for what was right for humankind. From Bishop Senyonjo’s courageous stand against antigay bigotry in Uganda, to the decades of advocacy for the Latino, Chicano and Two Spirits communities by Olga Talamante and Morningstar Vancil, we see accomplishment being recognized. We are the reality show the world should be watching, not the Housewives of Timbuktu and The Bachelor. And unlike a certain past US president - who has the letters “B.S.” in his last name - these leaders are the real heroes who got their “mission accomplished” without concern for a photo op. Much of my activism in recent years has focused on the plight of foreign LGBT people. I have my own “gay agenda” and it is based on a hierarchy of needs. When a life is threatened with incarceration, torture or murder, that person deserves a global response. The heinous, targeted killing of Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato will never leave my mind. Nor images of gay or suspected gay men hung or bludgeoned to death in Iraq. When a lesbian or gay man is facing deportation back to a dangerous land, it is the responsibility of all of us to stop texting about a Groupon deal, and start tweeting to embassies. Too many of us live in the comfort of great numbers of queers in the Bay Area, and forget who fought for the (continued on page 4)
The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), will provide health care relief to many LGBT families, numerous experts believe. In addition to providing health care to more than 30 million uninsured Americans, the act promises to safeguard against denial of coverage or exorbitant premiums for people with HIV and other chronic diseases. “For the first time in the history of the (HIV/ AIDS) epidemic, the ACA will dramatically expand health care access to people previously considered ‘uninsurable,’ including millions of Americans with HIV/AIDS and other serious illness,” said Neil Giuliano, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation. “Today, we move one step closer to having a health care system that supports access to care and treatment that prevent illness and disease progression, rather than a ’sick care system‘ that promotes disability and illness by limiting coverage options.” Rea Carey, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, shares Giuliano’s hope about the ACA. “This ruling is a victory for millions of people — including LGBT people and our families — who don’t have access to adequate, affordable health care,” Carey said. “Health care reform is about revamping a severely broken system to help everyone get a fair shake when it comes to keeping themselves and their families healthy and out of harm’s way. It is about making sure everyone has access to affordable health care when faced with injury and illness. It is based on the premise that no one get hung out to
dry — to literally die in some cases — because they were denied affordable health care in one of the richest countries in the world.” Carey continued, “This ruling is fair and humane, but it also reminds us of the work that remains to be done. People of color and economically impoverished people are disproportionately affected by health inequities. We have also long known that LGBT people — particularly LGBT people of color — suffer from higher rates of health disparities, and we continue to press for reform that addresses the stark realities that many of us face every day. This advocacy includes urging the Department of Health and Human Services to use its authority to make inroads in areas such as data collection and research on LGBT health disparities.” George Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, believes that the ACA accomplishes the following: • 31 million Americans are projected to gain health coverage by 2019 due to critical upcoming reforms, including the exchanges, exchange subsidies, minimum coverage provision and Medicaid expansion. • 54 million U.S. families have additional benefits, including greater access to preventive health care services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, such as vaccines and preventive care and screenings for women. (continued on page 4)