By Ramy Eletreby

Coalition Encourages L.A. Board of Supervisors to Fight Crystal Meth

The Act Now Against Meth coalition presented a petition signed by 10,000 community members to the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors on Sept. 20 demanding that the a public health emergency be declared regarding the current methamphetamine abuse epidemic. Other petition demands included creating federal programs to educate health-care professionals about meth addiction, coordinating meth prevention strategies among health programs, funding treatment efforts, funding intervention research and requiring social events to provide meth education.

After the petition was presented, the Board of Supervisors passed a motion granting the director of public health’s Alcohol and Drug Program Administration and Office of AIDS Programs and Policy (OAPP) and the director of mental health 90 days to report back with a comprehensive strategy for prevention and intervention on meth use in L.A.

“Crystal meth is a community issue, and it requires a community response,” said Eddie Martinez, associate director of The Wall-Las Memorias Project, a member of the coalition. “But we can’t do it alone. We must work together. And we must act quickly.”

Other coalition members include the Asian-Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, Being Alive, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, El Proyecto del Barrio, Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles, Midtowne Spa, The Tweakers Project, Van Ness Recovery House, among others.

L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Sues IRS; Launches Bold HIV Campaign

On Sept. 26, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center (LAGLC) sued the IRS in order to force them to release documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) having to do with its discriminatory rejection of the Center’s application for non-profit status over 30 years ago. In 1971, the IRS denied the Gay Community Services Center (now the LAGLC) federal 501 (c)(3) nonprofit status on the grounds that it was not “organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.” After many appeals, the IRS granted nonprofit status in 1974 under the conditions that the Center would not “contend that homosexuality is normal” and that “officers and directors are not avowed homosexuals.” The LAGLC’s complaint states that the IRS is “trying to cover up its misconduct by refusing to turn over the background documents.”

In other LAGLC news, the Center launched a bold new HIV awareness campaign on Sept. 19 targeting gay and bisexual men featuring posters and advertisements stating, “HIV is a gay disease. Own it. End it.” While the disease affects several marginalized communities in L.A., it continues to disproportionately affect gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities. At the recent International AIDS Conference, University of Pittsburgh researchers reported that 8 percent of 20-year-old gay men in North America and Europe were infected with HIV back in 2001 and at the current rate of infection, it could rise to nearly 25 percent by the time those men turn 30 and climb to 60 percent by age 60.

A community forum to discuss the campaign and HIV-prevention issues will be held at on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at the Renberg Theatre in the Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Pl. at 7 p.m.

Homophobic Reggae Artist Buju Banton L.A. Concert Canceled

An Oct. 3 performance by homophobic reggae artist Buju Banton at the Highlands in Hollywood was canceled after several black LGBT bloggers wrote letters of complaint to Highlands management.

“As a black lesbian, I'm personally insulted that your venue would allow anti-gay musicians to spout their homophobia,” wrote Jasmyne Cannick in a letter to Adam Manacker, general manager of the Highlands.

Concerts featuring Banton and reggae peer Beenie Man were canceled in the U.K. back in July after the artists refused to stop using anti-gay lyrics in their songs. Banton’s “Batty Rider” and “Boom Bye Bye” glorify the shooting of gay men, pouring acid over them, and setting them on fire. Protests also occurred in early September at Banton’s House of Blues show in Chicago.

“The battle isn’t over,” writes Cannick in her blog.

Beenie Man is currently scheduled to perform at the Century Club in Century City on Oct. 22.

Three Men Sentenced to Prison in SD Pride Attacks; Juvenile Faces Custody

James Allen Carroll, Kenneth James Lincoln and Lyonn Taz Tatum were sentenced to prison on Sept. 25 after pleading guilty for their distinctive parts in the beating and stabbing of six men leaving the San Diego Pride festivities in July. Carroll, 24, was sentenced to 11 years after pleading guilty to attempted murder and assault by means of force. Tatum, 18, was sentenced to eight years for assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of assault by means of force. Both Carroll and Tatum admitted to hate crime allegations. Lincoln, 24, received 32 months after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact. A 15-year-old boy also involved in the attacks faces up to 13 years in custody after pleading guilty on Sept. 22 to three counts of assault with a deadly weapon as well as hate crime allegations and causing great bodily injury to one of the victims.

Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing Garden Party Set for Oct. 8

The fifth annual Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH) Garden Party is set for Sunday, Oct. 8, from 2-6 p.m. at the Hancock Park home of David Cooley. The afternoon event will honor legendary art collector Blake Byrne and benefit the first affordable housing development for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender seniors, which is set to open in Spring 2007. DJ Sandy Sachs will be on hand to provide the music.

A drawing for a trip for two on Qantas Airlines to Auckland, Sydney, Mumbai, or Johannesburg will be held. The destination is up to the winner. To purchase tickets online, visit www.gleh.org.

L.A. Homeless Services Authority Commission Names New Executive Director

After months of drama at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission, including the resignations of its executive director and CFO and the termination of its controller, the agency named attorney Rebecca Isaacs its new CEO on Sept. 22.

“LAHSA has made the right decision in hiring Rebecca as their new CEO,” said L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. “Her experience in successfully running the Inner City Law Center gives her a good grasp and close familiarity with the kinds of issues she’ll be dealing with in this new position.”

Isaacs, who has been a long-time advocate for gays and lesbians, as well as people living with HIV/AIDS, and previously served as interim executive director of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, will start in her new position in November.

Rafael Cosio Named New Executive Director of Being Alive

Being Alive/People with HIV/AIDS Action Coalition has named Rafael Cosio as its new executive director after five months of searching and reviewing more than 200 applicants. Cosio comes to Being Alive after serving as director of education and HIV/AIDS Programs at the Pacific Pride Foundation.

“As a bilingual/bicultural gay Latino male with a proven track record of involvement around issues of health-care access, advocacy, drug policy reform and social change, I strongly believe that my experience will provide a valuable contribution to this organization and its efforts in serving various communities infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS in L.A. County,” said Cosio, in a statement.

Lesbian Fertility Treatment Case Appears Before Calif. Supreme Court

On Sept. 20, Lambda Legal opened arguments in the state Supreme Court to reinstate a previous decision that doctors should be required to treat LGBT patients like all other patients regardless of their religious beliefs.

The case involved is Benitez v. North Coast Women’s Care Medical Group, which claims that Guadalupe “Lupita” Benitez was denied fertility treatment by her San Diego health care provider because she is a lesbian and her doctors, Christine Brody and Douglas Fenton, are fundamentalist Christians. “I was in my doctors’ care for their medical assistance, not for their religious judgments,” said Benitez.

“Doctors with anti-gay religious beliefs are not excused from obeying the laws that govern all of us,” said Lambda Legal Senior Counsel Advisor Jennifer C. Pizer. “That our client’s doctors felt that they could defy well-established California law and medical ethics is very worrisome for all of us in a civil society.”