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Archive for the ‘AIDS/HIV’ Category

Former NYC Human Rights Commissioner and AIDS Activist Dennis deLeon died today in Manhattan at the age of 61, the NYT reports:

"The cause was heart failure, said Bruce Kiernan, Mr. deLeon’s companion for 32 years. Mr. deLeon learned he was H.I.V.-positive in 1986 and had grown weaker in recent years, Mr. Kiernan said.

Mr. deLeon had been human rights commissioner for three years when he disclosed his condition in an Op-Ed article in The New York Times in 1993. At the time, AIDS bore far more of a stigma than it does today, and, he said, he had been struggling for years about whether to go public. 'When I contemplated disclosure,' he wrote, 'I felt that my hope to continue contributing to society as a lawyer and human rights activist was threatened. Would I be evaluated on my merits if I sought to be a judge, a law professor, a law firm member or a governmental appointee?'

In his article, Mr. deLeon commended two other officials — Thomas K. Duane, then a City Council member and now a state senator, and Ronald Johnson, the city’s AIDS services coordinator at the time — for previously disclosing their H.I.V.-positive status. Until then, Mr. deLeon said, only his mother, his partner and Mayor David N. Dinkins had been aware of the situation."

DeLeon soon after became president of the Latino Commission on AIDS, a two-person organization he grew into one with a staff of 45.

Above, a portrait of deLeon in 1996 from Life magazine.

Said Governor David Paterson in a statement: "It is with great sadness that I learned today of the passing of Dennis de Leon. Building from a successful career as a civil rights attorney in California, Mr. de Leon became deputy Manhattan borough president in 1988, and, in 1990, chair of the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Since September of 1994, he served as president of the Latino Commission on AIDS.

"Mr. de Leon was instrumental in raising the issue of AIDS in the Latino community and transforming the conversation from one of shame and dishonor to care and responsibility. His legacy as a civil rights advocate, AIDS activist and leader in the LGBT community will live on in his work and all those he influenced along the way. I extend my deepest sympathies to Mr. De Leon's family, friends, and colleagues."

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Here's the first image from a M.A.C. Viva Glam cosmetics campaign for Spring 2010 featuring Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga. Lauper and Lady Gaga are the newest faces of the M.A.C. AIDS Fund, which has donated over $135 million to fight IV/AIDS since 1994.

PopCrunch: "Gaga Lipstick and Viva Glam Cyndi Lipstick, $14 each, will launch in
North America on March 18 and globally throughout the month, with 100
percent of the proceeds being donated to the MAC AIDS Fund." 

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Obama's AIDS policies, specifically the five-year strategy for PEPFAR, under the spotlight in the NYT:

As the Obama administration slowly unveils its global AIDS
plan, the drive to put more people on drugs is being scaled back as
emphasis is shifted to prevention and to diseases that cost less to
fight, including pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and fatal birth complications.

AIDS advocates complained bitterly that they had been betrayed and that
the Bush administration’s best legacy was being gutted — and they blame
a doctor and budget adviser who is also the brother of the White House
chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

“I’m holding my nose as I say this, but I miss George W. Bush,”
said Gregg Gonsalves a long-time AIDS campaigner. “On AIDS, he really
stepped up. He did a tremendous thing. Now, to have this happen under
Obama is really depressing.”

Obama is Criticized on AIDS Programs [nyt]

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TSA leaks entire screening procedures manual.

In response to the Manhattan Declaration, the Affirmation Declaration.

Send a good-bye kiss to daytime TV's pioneering gay couple Luke and Noah.

UCLA researchers: stem cells can be engineered to kill HIV: "We have demonstrated in this proof-of-principle study that this type
of approach can be used to engineer the human immune system,
particularly the T-cell response, to specifically target HIV-infected
cells. These studies lay the
foundation for further therapeutic development that involves restoring
damaged or defective immune responses toward a variety of viruses that
cause chronic disease, or even different types of tumors."

Susan Boyle to perform at Michelle Obama's birthday party.

Inside Cory Monteith's crib.

Miami teacher murdered by his ex-lover: "According to a police report, neighbors watched in
horror as Higgs stabbed Brown several times with a kitchen knife in the
hallway at Inland Towers Apartment. Higgs, 53, then fled the scene but
was captured a short time later. Police
believe the two men knew each other for a long time and had an intimate
relationship for the past seven or eight years before brown broke it
off for unknown reasons."

There's been a death in the Beckham family.

Pageant held for 'Miss Fat Gay Venezuela'. Video.

A Christian-Hollywood link to the Uganda "kill gays" bill.

Chad White and Kerry Degman in "boot camp".

AfterElton does a post-season interview with gay brothers Sam and Dan McMillen from The Amazing Race.

Washington lawmaker Reuven Carlyle to introduce disclosure bill: "[Bill] would clarify that signatures, names and addresses of people
who sign initiatives and referendums are part of the public record. The issue of releasing names of people who sign referendums and
initiatives surfaced earlier this year in the fight over the new 'everything but marriage' law that expands rights for gay domestic
partners in Washington state."

Widowed lesbian wins landmark payout over hospital error: "The case is believed to mark the first time a civil partner in England
has been awarded compensation for medical negligence since the passage
of a law that provides civil partners similar rights as married couples."

Avatar turns Sigourney Weaver into a weeping mess: "It [Avatar] will pick you up and shake you like a rag doll. I'm not too much of an emotional creature, but I was
weeping by the end. I remember reading the script and thinking, I love
this but how can he [Cameron] ever do this. Nothing like this had been
done before — floating mountains!"

Boy Culture has a boatload of material from the Single Man press junket in NYC.

Homophobic easter egg found in new video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare?

In the can: Bollywood's first gay lovemaking scene.

Robert Downey Jr. shows off at Mann's Chinese Theater handprint ceremony.

NY Dems to be targeted in 2010 over marriage vote: "It's going to be a bloodbath. We're going to use every single weapon in our quiver to take these people out. We either need to replace them or scare the hell out of them so they do the right thing."

Big Love villain Alby to get boyfriend.

Lambeth: London police conduct raids against homophobic crime at 17 addresses:
" The operation was carried out to mark the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women, and was part of wider police
action across London.
A Lambeth police spokeswoman said the main thrust of the action was to
combat violence against women, but it also focussed on combating
racist, homophobic and disability motivated hate crime, and crimes
against the vulnerable or older people by members of their own family
and carers."

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While trying to discover how HIV hijacks cells, researchers at the University of Rochester discovered a feline gene in the virus:

"It appears the virus took on a bit of a tiger's genetic material, scientists say, and a remnant of that cat remains in the virus to this day. That tiger, in fact, may have bitten a monkey, setting off an evolution of the virus that ultimately led to its infection of humans.

The finding shouldn't lead to any immediate breakthroughs in AIDS treatment, experts say. But it does provide more insight into how the virus works. 'Unless you really understand how these viruses work, the exact step-by-step chemical process, then you can't really rationally design a new clever kind of therapy that may be effective against the virus,' explained study co-author Robert Bambara, chairman of the University of Rochester's department of biochemistry and biophysics…The research suggests that HIV may have been a cat virus before it attacked monkeys and humans. Perhaps a tiger bit a monkey and transferred the virus that way, although there could have been another mode of transmission, Bambara said.

Next, researchers hope to determine whether a cousin of the human AIDS virus in monkeys, known as simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), evolved to either have or not have the tiger gene, Bambara said.

If a link exists between the presence of the gene and the strength of the virus, that could be useful to scientists trying to find ways to better treat humans, he said."

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While trying to discover how HIV hijacks cells, researchers at the University of Rochester discovered a feline gene in the virus:

"It appears the virus took on a bit of a tiger's genetic material, scientists say, and a remnant of that cat remains in the virus to this day. That tiger, in fact, may have bitten a monkey, setting off an evolution of the virus that ultimately led to its infection of humans.

The finding shouldn't lead to any immediate breakthroughs in AIDS treatment, experts say. But it does provide more insight into how the virus works. 'Unless you really understand how these viruses work, the exact step-by-step chemical process, then you can't really rationally design a new clever kind of therapy that may be effective against the virus,' explained study co-author Robert Bambara, chairman of the University of Rochester's department of biochemistry and biophysics…The research suggests that HIV may have been a cat virus before it attacked monkeys and humans. Perhaps a tiger bit a monkey and transferred the virus that way, although there could have been another mode of transmission, Bambara said.

Next, researchers hope to determine whether a cousin of the human AIDS virus in monkeys, known as simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), evolved to either have or not have the tiger gene, Bambara said.

If a link exists between the presence of the gene and the strength of the virus, that could be useful to scientists trying to find ways to better treat humans, he said."

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Today, on World AIDS Day, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Health Committee Chair Joel Rivera, Council Member Rosie Mendez, and representatives from HIV/AIDS organizations from around New York City, launched the "I Talk Because" social networking campaign, featuring YouTube clips of New Yorkers talking about HIV and AIDS. 

The clips above feature NYC Speaker Quinn, model Ronnie Kroell, Joseph, and Gay Men's Health Crisis CEO Marjorie Hill. Many more can be viewed HERE.

Said State Senator Tom Duane: “I applaud Speaker Quinn for her initiative to ensure that HIV/AIDS awareness is not only addressed on World AIDS Day but also throughout the year. In order to prevent new HIV infections, and increase the percentage of HIV-positive New Yorkers who know their status and have access to appropriate care, we need to talk about how HIV is spread and confront the associated stigma and discrimination that tragically persist. I look forward to participating in this innovative social networking campaign to help stem the spread of this deadly disease." 

The campaign is on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. New Yorkers are encouraged to submit videos by emailing italkbecause@gmail.com.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

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Obama releases World AIDS Day proclamation.

"Most wanted" celebs get portrait treatment.

I personally believe: Guess who's joining the next season of The Amazing Race?

Sweden to partially lift ban on gay blood donors:
"Sweden will lift its ban on gay blood donors as of March 1, 2010, but
will restrict donations to gay men who have not had sex with a man for
a year, national health authorities said Tuesday. 'Men who have had sex
with men will no longer be permanently barred from donating blood,' the
National Board of Health and Welfare said in a statement released on
World AIDS Day."

Adam Lambert caught flirting with Twitter follower.

Meryl Streep continues to be a goddess.

Serena Williams fined $175,000 for outburst at judge: "…if she does not commit another major offense in the next two years, she will have her fine reduced to $82,500. Even at that level, it would be the largest fine levied against a player for misbehavior at a Grand Slam."

Lou Sheldon, leader of hate group Traditional Values Coalition, signs the Manhattan Declaration.

Demonstrators to rally in front of Vallejo, California City Hall on Tuesday night in reaction to Mayor Osby Davis' homophobic remarks. Said Davis about gays: “They’re committing sin and that sin will keep
them out of heaven. But you don’t hate the person. You hate the sin
that they
commit.”

Vodka in a pill?

Jack Mackenroth for Living Positive by Design.

Charles Durning to star in marriage equality courtroom drama: "Tony Award winner Charles Durning will star in the feature film An Affirmative Act,
written and produced by Kenneth Del Vecchio. Jana Mattioli is set to
direct, and the movie will premiere at the Hoboken International Film
Festival in June 2010. The film is billed as the first-ever courtroom drama about the
legalization of Gay Marriage. It will also feature Blanch Baker, Robert
Clohessy, Justin Deas, Randy Jones, Costas Mandylor, Jackie Martling,
and Tom Waites.

Meet Coldilocks.

Gay activist to run for senate in Phillippines: "Danton Remoto, chairman of gay group Ang Ladlad, is eyeing the senatorial post as he filed his certificate of candidacy Tuesday.

Ang Ladlad is an organization of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT).

Remoto is running as an independent candidate but said he is open to alliances.

He added that the group will urge gay parlors and some educational institutions to vote for him. 'If you don't vote for me, you will get ugly,' joked the gay activist." 

Mr. Big gets smaller.

D.C. Officials: student vouchers underwrite discrimination.
"Two top elected officials in Ward 6 have written to Sen. Richard
Durbin (D-Ill) opposing reauthorization of the D.C. Opportunity
Scholarship Program (DCSOP), asserting that some students who receive
the federally-funded vouchers attend 'seriously deficient' private
schools or religious schools with discriminatory employment practices."

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Rachel Maddow interviewed The Family author Jeff Sharlet last night in a discussion about Rick Warren and Uganda's "kill the gays" bill.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP…

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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HIV PREVENTION GAY BAR DELAYED – see below…

A World AIDS Day event at a railway station in Beijing where pamphlets were being handed out on HIV prevention was crashed Tuesday by activists angry over tainted blood transfusions, the AP reports:

"Wearing white face masks scrawled with the words 'Infected blood transfusions causes AIDS,' the 20 or so activists mounted the stage set up by China's Red Cross and spoke through tears. 'Our fight for free treatment has continued for the past eight years with no luck,' one protester, Liu Xiurong, said afterward.

The HIV virus that causes AIDS gained a foothold in China largely due to unsanitary blood plasma-buying schemes and tainted transfusions in hospitals.

AIDS was the top killer among infectious diseases in China for the first time last year. By the end of October, the number of Chinese confirmed with HIV-AIDS was 319,877, according to China's Health Ministry. Health Minister Chen Zhu said the actual level of infections is probably closer to 740,000.

Liu, from the northeastern city of Harbin, said her son became infected with the HIV virus by tainted plasma several years ago. She received compensation from the Shanghai company that supplied the blood, but the money wasn't enough for medical costs.' The money we got is not even close to the amount that we need to live. My son still needs treatment,' she told Associated Press Television News. 'Now that we've put ourselves out there, there is a chance that we'll be beaten or arrested in the future,' Liu said. 'It's OK because we have nothing left to lose.'"

Additionally, the gay bar set to open today in Dali, in the Yunnan Province, was delayed, the WSJ reports:

"But on Tuesday, slated to be the bar’s opening day, the plan apparently became a victim of its own premature success.

Xinhua reports that the opening has been delayed 'due to pressure,' according to the bar’s founder, Zhang Jianbo, a doctor at the No. 2 People’s Hospital in Dali. Plans for the club had garnered perhaps too much domestic media attention in recent days, which could have had the effect of deterring some of the bar’s intended customers, who might not be out to family and friends. The volunteers who would have run the day-to-day operations of the club were also put in an uncomfortable position, according to Zhang. 'They will be looked at through ‘colored glasses’,' he told Xinhua.

Zhang remained optimistic about the venture, for which the Dali government had reportedly earmarked nearly $18,000. He said 'the pub will open sooner or later,' according to Xinhua."

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