March 10: Women and Girls and HIV/AIDS, Oh My!

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed specifically on March 10 every year, and it is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH). OWH encourages organizations to hold events throughout the entire month of March.

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a nationwide observance that encourages people to take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS and raise awareness of its impact on women and girls.

According to the CDC, HIV/AIDS is a serious public health issue affecting nearly 280,000 women in the United States. While men account for most HIV/AIDS cases, the impact on women is growing. In addition, research shows that, when compared to men, women face gaps in access and care.

For a handy fact sheet, go here:

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Fact Sheet (PDF, 434 KB)

(The new healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act, will prohibit insurance plans from putting lifetime caps on the dollar amount that they will spend on benefits. In the past, patients with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or other chronic diseases ran the risk of hitting a lifetime cap and losing access to care. The law also restricts most insurance companies' use of low annual dollar limits on benefits. In 2014, annual limits will be eliminated. In addition, the Affordable Care Act will help those living with HIV/AIDS be better able to afford their medications.)

The Affordable Care Act and National HIV/AIDS Strategy are two important steps in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but HIV/AIDS is an issue that affects all people, and we each need to do our part ot make a positive difference. On National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, OWH calls on individuals and organizations across the country to take action and bring attention to the impact HIV/AIDS has on women and girls.

It helps organizations across the country come together to offer support, encourage discussion, and teach women and girls about prevention of HIV, the importance of getting tested for HIV, and how to live with and manage HIV/AIDS.

Education is key to making a difference with the disease, but action items that people can do in response to HIV/AIDS are most empowering. Some ideas include:

• Get tested for HIV, and encourage your friends to do so. If you can, offer incentives for people to get tested.
  
• Encourage your newspaper or schools to sponsor an essay contest on the epidemic.
• Submit an editorial or letter on local needs to your newspaper.
• Encourage radio stations to air public service announcements.
• Learn about the risk factors for acquiring HIV, and talk about them.
• Make the choice to practice safer sex and avoid higher risk behaviors.
  
• Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues.
• Tell people about why this day is important to you and people you know.
• Talk about the epidemic’s impact on your community with friends and family.
• Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Volunteer at a local organization that serves people living with HIV.
• Help fund an event for the Day or support it with in-kind donations.

Visit AIDS.gov for more information from the federal government about HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, treatment, research, and using new media in response to HIV/AIDS.

Presidential Appointments (Amidst Disappointments)

Amidst dwindling hopes of any significant legislative progress under the hand of our current national executive officer (that's you, DADT!), there's still a definite cause of LGBT celebration from the president. Less than halfway through his first term, Barack Obama has appointed more openly gay officials than any other president in history, as well as the first openly trans appointee.

Gay activists say the estimate of more than 150 appointments so far – from agency heads and commission members to policy officials and senior staffers – surpasses the previous high of about 140 reached during two full terms under President Bill Clinton. So, in less than half a term, Obama has had more LGBT appointments than any other president, including double-termed ones.

“From everything we hear from inside the administration, they wanted this to be part of their efforts at diversity,” said Denis Dison, spokesman for the Presidential Appointments Project of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute.

In a sign of how times have changed, few of the appointees – about two dozen required Senate confirmation – have stirred much controversy. It’s a far cry from the 1993 furor surrounding Clinton’s nomination of then-San Francisco Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg as assistant secretary for Housing and Urban Development.

Achtenberg was the first openly gay official to serve at such a senior level, and she won confirmation despite contentious hearings and opposition from NC's former Sen. Jesse Helms, who denounced her as a “militant extremist.”

Gay activists, among Obama’s strongest supporters, had hoped he would be the first to appoint an openly gay Cabinet secretary. While that hasn’t happened – yet – Obama did appoint the highest-ranking gay official ever when he named John Berry as director of the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the nation’s 1.9 million federal workers.

Other prominent names include Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Fred Hochberg, chairman of the Export-Import Bank. Obama also named Amanda Simpson, the first openly transgender appointee, as a senior technical adviser in the Commerce Department. And David Huebner, ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, is the third openly gay ambassador in U.S. history.

White House spokesman Shin Inouye confirmed the record number, saying Obama has hired more gay officials than the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations combined. He said Obama “is proud that his appointments reflect the diversity of the American public.”

“He is committed to appointing highly qualified individuals for each post,” Inouye said. “We have made a record number of openly LGBT appointments and we are confident that this number will only continue to grow.”

Dison’s group lists 124 of the appointees on its website. He said the remainder are not listed because they are lower-level officials not formally announced by the White House.

“We learn about a lot of these through informal networks and then work to confirm that they are indeed appointed and that they are openly LGBT,” Dison said.

One Obama nominee who met some opposition was Chai Feldblum, a Georgetown University law professor nominated to serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Concerned Women for America accused Feldblum of playing “a major role in pushing the homosexual and transsexual agenda on Americans.” Other conservative groups blasted her role in drafting the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, a bill that would ban employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Obama made Feldblum a recess appointment in March after an anonymous hold in the Senate held up her confirmation for months.

Another target for conservatives was Kevin Jennings, founder of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, who was named to oversee the Education Department’s Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools. More than 50 House Republicans asked Obama to remove Jennings from the post after reports surfaced about advice he gave more than 20 years earlier after learning a gay student had sex with an older man.

Jennings conceded that he should have consulted medical or legal authorities instead of telling the 15-year-old boy that he hoped he had used a condom. The Obama administration defended Jennings and declined to remove him.

It was in early 2008 that the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute focused its Presidential Appointments Project on steering thousands of resumes of qualified gay professionals to White House jobs. Dison said that push has helped increase the numbers, though it certainly helped to have a more receptive White House.

The more LGBT folks that work within government at lower levels, the more visibility there is for the entire movement, and the more change will ultimately occur at higher levels.

In the end, lots of small advancements add up to huge ones.

Bi, Bi, Bi! Encourage Visi-Bi-lity By Celebrating Bisexuality Day!

Thursday, Sept. 23 (and events the following weekend) will mark the 19th annual Celebrate Bisexuality Day (CBD).

Supporters and friends are encouraged to use this occasion to celebrate with activities to encouarge visi-Bi-lity and show their pride while fundraising for national, regional, and local bi/pan/fluid organizations.

Did you know there's a bi pride flag? It's true! You can see it in the picture, and find our more about its history here. The pink color represents sexual attraction to the same-sex (gay and lesbian), blue represents sexual attraction to the opposite-sex (straight), and the resultant overlap color purple represents sexual attraction to both sexes (bi).

Bisexuality is often unfairly dismissed in the gay community as an interim label (sort of a midway point used by people who are in the process of coming out as simply gay but too scared to entirely give up the relative safety of self-identifying as straight). It's not, and it's importance for us to realize this.

While gay visibility has increased over time, bisexuality has remained fairly invisible - people tend to automatically label a couple as either straight or gay depending upon the perceived gender of the people involved. It's easy, but it's not always accurate (as we all know!).

Bisexuality is, of course, quite real, and is simply an attraction to others regardless of gender. Increasingly, though, bi-folks also self-identify as "fluid," "omnisexual," "pansexual," or eschew labels completely (let's call them "free-identifiers" :-) ).

CBD was created as a response to the marginalization of bisexual people by others in both straight and gay communities.

Here are some useful resources for finding out more about our bi brethren and sistren:

• BiNet USA
• BiNet USA on Twitter
• BiNet USA's Facebook Group
• Find Bisexual Groups in America
• American Institute of Bisexuality (AIB)
• Bisexual Resource Center (BRC)
• Bi Magazine

Let's take this opportunity to celebrate and affirm the diversity of identity and expression of all LGBT folks, family, and friends, regardless of labels.

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."

(Title quote from Stacia Tauscher.)

Are you a kid? Do you know any kids? Do you have kids? Do you ever see any kids? OK, were you ever a kid?!

The National Youth Advocacy Coalition maintains a collection of resources on information about the lives of LGBT and questioning young people, as well as resources specifically for these youth and youth-serving professionals nationwide. It's mission is to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.

If you ever have any questions, need a resource, or have a suggestion for a resource, they're a great place to go.

They maintain wiki pages for:

• Resources for LGBTQ youth
• Resources for Organizations
• Directory of All Resources

Check out some of their materials under these categories:

• Best Practices for HIV Prevention (Organizations)
• Best Practices for Health and Wellness (Organizations)
• Best Practices for LGBT Homeless Youth
• Best Practices for Policy and Advocacy (Organizations)
• Best Practices for Tobacco Cessation (Organizations) (including the August 2010 report, “Coming Out about Smoking: Tobacco Use in the LGBTQ Young Adult Community,” which explores the reasons why sexual minority youth smoke and suggests strategies for prevention.
• Best Practices for Youth Engagement (Organizations)

"NYAC is committed to representing the voices of young people - the largest living generation - within the broader LGBTQ and social justice movements. Through capacity building, advocacy and youth engagement, NYAC is building a generation of impact."

Not National HIV Testing Day

Today is not National HIV Testing Day.

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is June 27 each year, so it was just over a month ago. The point, however, is to raise awareness and promote early diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. It's not meant to limit testing to a single day but instead make people realize how important it is to do regularly, which is why it's being mentioned here more than a month later.

NHTD was founded by the National Association of People with AIDS in 1995. The LGBT community is still disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS, so it's more important to emphasize getting tested early and often.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in five of the 1.1 million people in the United States estimated to be living with HIV are not aware of their status. In the new cases of HIV, over half are attributed to people who do not know their HIV status.

The latest CDC data shows a large increase in new diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM) and African Americans. HIV disproportionately affects MSM, blacks folks, and Hispanics/Latinos, but MSM are the only risk group with increasing annual numbers of new HIV infections.

“Take the Test, Take Control” was this year's theme for NHTD. Being aware of your HIV/AIDS status puts you in control of your health and reduces the risk to others. Just the idea of getting tested may be scary and difficult, but fear of the results should never outweigh the importance of knowing.

HIV is not immediately detectable, so regular testing is essential. It can take from three weeks to three months for HIV antibodies to be detectable by the most common rapid tests. This period may be as long as six months. A newly infected person could still spread HIV, though, so regular testing and safe sex practices are vital to HIV prevention.

For the CDC's FAQ on HIV/AIDS and getting tested, go here.

To find an HIV testing location near you, visit hivtest.org.

Bad Blood - Gay Donor Ban Continues

(Thanks to ENC Communication Intern Matthew McGibney.)

Despite calls from legislators to the contrary, a committee of the Department of Health and Human Services voted 9-6 last week to continue banning gay men from donating blood.

A repeal of the ban seemed a distinct possibility leading up to the vote, especially after a group of legislators, led by Massachusetts senator John Kerry and Illinois representative Mike Quigley, issued a statement calling for a change to the policy. Senator Kerry spoke before the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability, along with representatives of the American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks, and America’s Blood Centers. These groups called the policy “scientifically and medically unwarranted,” and in need of a change.

The current policy stems more from prejudice rather than scientific fact.

For those who don’t know, here’s the rule: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bars particular groups from giving blood, in this case in an attempt to limit the spread of the HIV virus. The FDA bans any man who has had sex with a man since 1977 from donating, regardless of their HIV status. The policy was formulated in the 1980s, as the HIV/AIDS crisis was developing the United States and solid scientific information on its spread was limited (back in the bad-old days where AIDS was falsely considered a “gay disease”).

It is now 2010, and we know that contracting HIV is not limited to gay men. The FDA allows straight men and women who have had sexual contact with an HIV-positive partner to give blood after a year-long waiting period, while a married, monogamous, HIV-negative gay couple would be forbidden for life.

That’s worth repeating: The FDA thinks just being gay is more likely to make someone contract HIV than actually having sex with an HIV-positive person would.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion, according to the Red Cross. Yet current regulations prohibit gay men from donating blood based on decades-old stereotypes. Blood banks are in constant need of donors, but the FDA is blocking access to a potential donor pool against the advice of those on the front lines.

The committee did call the guidelines “suboptimal” and recommended changes based on high-risk and low-risk groups of gay men. Why such a discriminatory policy, lacking in a scientific justification, is allowed to exist at all is another question altogether.

By failing to use facts to evaluate blood donations in efforts to reduce the danger of folks becoming HIV+, the FDA gets a grade of F-.

Not A Pretty Picture ... ADAP Waiting Lists

Mountain Xpress over in Asheville has a great post on ADAP, as well as a cogent graph comparing ADAP waiting lists among different states:

AIDS meds assistance program in jeopardy

By Michael Muller

North Carolina, sadly, takes the cake, with the majority piece of the pie.It's not a pretty picture, but that's why it's so important to take a look. Please click through on the link and check it out!

National LGBT Health Awareness Week

This week, March 28-April 3, is the 8th Annual National LGBT Health Awareness Week.

This year's theme for LGBT Health Awareness Week is "Closing the Gap." The LGBT community has, on average, worse health outcomes and less access to the care than the straight community.

We need to educate ourselves and our health care providers about our unique health needs as well as our health risks in order to close the gap - everyone deserves good health!

It can be hard to talk about intimate life with anyone. To make sure the LGBT community stays healthy, we need to help our health care providers help us by talking openly and honestly about our lives and who we are.

Coming out is crucial. We need to come out to our providers about our sexual orientation or gender identity. We need to let them know when we are fighting depression, challenging substance use, and trying to manage our sexual health.

You'll find a selection of fact sheets and resources on LGBT-specific health issues here. Topics include:

• Access to Healthcare
• Aging
• Cancer
• Hepatitis
• Intimate Partner Violence
• Mental Health
• Sexual Health
• Smoking
• Substance Abuse
• Transmen's Health
• Transwomen's Health
• Youth Policy

As a bonus, in honor of this week, here is the upshot of the recently passed healthcare reform legislature ... from a gay perspective.

Once implemented, more than 95 percent of the country will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured. This matters to the LGBT community because:

• Gay folks are disproportionately poor and/or homeless due to pervasive discrimination, according to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Extending health care coverage to economically disadvantaged people will help a critically vulnerable segment of our community gain access to basic medical care.
• Under the new law, adult children under the age of 27 will be able to remain on their families’ insurance policies, even after they leave home and/or graduate from college. Between 1 million and 9 million children are being raised by LGBT parents in the United States today, and poverty rates for children of same-sex couples are twice as high as poverty rates for children of different-sex married couples.
• A 2006 survey of national data by the Williams Institute showed that 20 percent of people in same-sex couples were uninsured, compared with only 11.5 percent of married individuals.
• Data from the CDC's National Health Interview Survey found that women in same-sex couples were statistically significantly less likely to have health insurance than women in different-sex relationships.

Other positive aspects include:

• Increased general data collection, which will help identify disparities in LGBT healthcare (though increased LGBT-specific data collection did not make the final cut).
• Emphasis on disease prevention and public health.
• The end of gender ratings, which means insurance companies will no longer be able to charge women more than men for the exact same policies.
• Access to coverage despite preexisting conditions. This provision will be a tremendous benefit to transgender people, people with HIV, and groups of LGBT folks who are disproportionately affected by certain illnesses, e.g., lesbians with a greater incidence of breast cancer.

Unfortunately, the reform also has some negatives:

• It continues the five-year ban on legal immigrants’ Medicaid eligibility and a ban on undocumented residents’ access to health insurance, which will affect gay communities in these groups.
• There are restrictions on reproductive freedom, which is an adjunct issue affecting LGBT folks.
• There are none of the proposed specific anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people or measures specifically addressing the needs of people with HIV.
• The final package lacks an earlier provision that would have eliminated the tax paid on domestic partner health benefits offered by employers.
• It provides funding to abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, which have been proven not only ineffective but also harmful to LGBT youth and youth from LGBT families

Read more about healthcare reform at the White House's site on the topic.

Putting the Positive in HIV+

One generally doesn't associate HIV/AIDS with good news - over a million Americans are estimated to be living with HIV, and worldwide an estimated 33 million people are living with HIV - but there's been some positive activity around this disease.

World AIDS Day will be next month on December 1, as usual. This year's theme is 'Universal Access and Human Rights.' Here're some good resources for helping to get the word out:

• AIDS.gov, World AIDS Day - December 1, 2009 has some great online and offline options for helping publicize and educate.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HIV/AIDS Awareness Days site shows that World AIDS Day is just one of several days selected to raise awareness of this illness.
• AVERT.org has some cute educational games you can play online to help test your own knowledge, as well as learn more.
• The World AIDS Campaign has some multilingual posters and postcards you can download and use.

On October 30, President Obama reauthorized the Ryan White Act, which continues this invaluable federal program that provides funding and assistance to people with HIV/AIDS. You can read his full statement here.

One especially bright point was this excerpt, which announced the end of the unreasonable HIV/AIDS travel ban:

"Twenty-two years ago, in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact, the United States instituted a travel ban on entry into the country for people living with HIV/AIDS. Now, we talk about reducing the stigma of this disease -- yet we've treated a visitor living with it as a threat. We lead the world when it comes to helping stem the AIDS pandemic -- yet we are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people from HIV from entering our own country. If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it.

And that's why, on Monday my administration will publish a final rule that eliminates the travel ban effective just after the New Year. Congress and President Bush began this process last year, and they ought to be commended for it. We are finishing the job. It's a step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment, it's a step that will keep families together, and it's a step that will save lives."

Finally, just last week French researchers published the successful findings of a revolutionary gene therapy that used a disable version of HIV to treat a fatal brain disease. This development is amazingly exciting(/scary!), and a great example of making lemonade from the ultimate lemons.

There's still a ways to go in removing the stigma from HIV/AIDS and developing treatments, but by spreading information and raising awareness, we all contribute to an eventual cure.

(And we still encourage you to get a Red Ribbon specialty license plate to help raise awareness and support the Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolinas.)

Take Action and Be Kevin Jennings' Friend

Kevin Jennings is a hometown boy made good.

Though Kevin wasn't born here, he grew up in Winston-Salem. He went on to found the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and is currently the Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools at the U.S. Department of Education.

He's written six books on gay rights and education, and he won the Lambda Literary Award in the Children's/Young Adult category for his book Telling Tales Out of School.

In 2004, Kevin received the National Education Association (NEA)'s Virginia Uribe Award for Creative Leadership in Human Rights.

Of course, now that he's an openly gay man in a leadership position in the current executive administration of the country, anti-equality groups are slandering him something fierce. He's been accused of everything from child molestation to advocating murder. A few of them have apologized for some of the lies, but more of them are still propagating misinformation as part of political character assassination.

The mainstream press and gay bloggers have come to his defense, and now you can, too. Become his Facebook friend, or at least a member of the Support Kevin Jennings Facebook Group.

Kevin is a great educator and advocate for the LGBT community, and the opposition against him is nothing more than homophobia.

All it takes is a couple of clicks to show your support, and your virtual connection will make a real difference.

Ten Years: Working With You For Change

By Ian Palmquist

Ten years ago today, something happened that changed my life in ways I couldn't have imagined then: I started my first day of work at Equality NC.

I'd graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill that May and had been looking for a way to get into LGBT movement work. I was sure that was going to mean leaving North Carolina and heading off to New York, DC, or maybe San Francisco.

Happily, Equality NC's then-Executive Director, MK Cullen, asked me to come on staff. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous about it. It was the first time Equality NC was hiring a permanent second staff person. Plus, I was leaving my $11 per hour full-time job at UNC Student Stores for an $8 per hour half-time job.

My parents thought I was crazy. But I knew that chances to do paid movement work right here in my home state were few and far between, and leaped at the chance.

I've never regretted it.

At lunch today, a former intern of ours asked me what my favorite thing about working for Equality NC was. I thought a minute, and realized that the answer was clear.

The thing that his given me the most joy these ten years has been the chance to work with amazing leaders across the state and the nation who are fighting to make all of our lives better:

• Incredible volunteers who work tirelessly to win local policy victories or collect hundreds of postcards to legisaltors in conservative areas;
• Dedicated board members who work to realize a vision of what Equality NC could become;
• Amazing coalition partners who time and again stand up to insist that the LGBT community be included and protected;
• Hard-working colleagues at other Equality Federation organizations who have made me a better leader, and our movement more effective; and
  
• Talented co-workers and interns who pour their heart and soul into
  improving the lives of LGBT people in our state.

MK, and her successor Jo Wyrick, taught me so much about politics, grassroots organizing, and running a non-profit as I became the Assistant Director. Ed Farthing stuck with me as Co-Executive Director through some tough financial times and encouraged me to keep fighting because the work we were doing was so important.

Now Kay Flaminio, Shawn Long, and Rebecca Mann make coming to work as Executive Director these last three years something to look forward to, and have made our recent successes possible.

Ten years is a long time, and sometimes people ask my why I've stayed at Equality NC. I've been recruited a couple times to work for national organizations, but when I thought about it I realized that I could have the greatest impact working right here with you.

I truly believe that the most important work we can do to win full equality nationwide is to fight the fight in the states. The federal work is unquestionably important, too. But no amount of lobbying in DC will make a difference if our community isn't on the ground in local communities building public support for equal rights, passing local and state policies, and creating a climate for change.

That's why I'm so proud to work with Equality NC. Thanks to the amazing hard work of everyone that makes up this organization, we have achieved things no one thought were possible.

Here in our proudly Southern state, no bill that would diminish the rights of our community has passed since 1996, while our neighbors have seen attacks on our families enshrined into their state constituions.

Instead, we've increased protections for same-sex couples by ensuring basic hospital visitation rights. We've made life safer for our young people by making sure schools address bullying and harrassment. We've protected the lives and health of people by securing comprehensive sex education in public schools, increased funding for HIV prevention programs, and expanded access to HIV/AIDS drugs for low-income North Carolinians.

Most importantly, we've made our voices heard and laid a foundation that will, in time, allow us to build a state of equality.

I'm so proud of what we've done together. But I'm even more excited about what we can achieve going forward.

Thanks for being a part of my journey this past decade. I'm counting on you to stick with us as we keep moving forward together.

Equality in the News for July 11-17, 2009

So what's happened since last Friday?

In the home state …

Q-Notes releases the second half of their piece “Timeless Pride,” a summary of major LGBT activism and milestones in North Carolina since 1971.

WITN reports that the Pitt County resolution against same-sex marriage appears dead after a county commissioners meeting this week, which was accompanied by a small protest against the resolution. Q-Notes has more background on this protest as well.

Should Perdue’s appointment of Republican judge Eric Levinson cause concern within the LGBT community? Q-Notes has the scoop.

Mitchell Gold, CEO of the Taylorsville, N.C.-based Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture company and a friend of Equality NC, chose to attend the DNC’s 10th Annual LGBT Leadership Council Dinner, held on June 25 in Washington, despite the call for a boycott due to what some see as the party’s weak follow-through on LGBT issues. But Q-Notes reports that Mitchell Gold saw the dinner as an opportunity.

The Blue Ridge Now argues for the practicality of the new policies implemented by the Healthy Youth Act.

In the nation …

The Matthew Shepard Act passes the senate – but as an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill, not a stand-alone bill. That puts it at risk of a veto due to the bill's funding of the problematic F-22 jet program. The Advocate has the story.

Although it’s a bit out of date, this piece from the San Francisco Chronicle debunks some misconceptions and misleading testimony about the Act from the senate floor.

Un resúmen del Matthew Shepard Act, y la historia de Shepard mismo, en español

President Obama acknowledges the struggles of "our gay brothers and sisters" in his speech to the NAACP. Yay!

About 250 people showed up outside the Florida offices of WFLA this past Wednesday to protest the airing of anti-LGBT American Family Association documentary Speechless: Silencing the Christians, which was also aired in Charlotte, NC.

South Carolina Pride 2009 received a 12,000 dollar tax grant from Richland County government this year. Established 20 years ago, it is now a major tourist attraction, bringing in approximately 7000-8000 attendees last year.

Out in the World …

“The number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered ( LGBT ) representatives in the national legislatures of 18 countries around the world has tripled since 1998.” reports a study performed by UNC-Chapel Hill professor of Politcal Science Andrew Reynolds, Ph.D. See more of his findings here.

That’s all for this week!

Equality In the News June 27 – July 3

Special thanks to intern Harmony Pringle for reporting on this week's Equality in the News!

This week’s theme is solidarity – with the President, with the LGBT communities in other nations, and with other marginalized communities within our own nation. As author Elie Wiesel eloquently stated

This is the duty of our generation as we enter the twenty-first century -- solidarity with the weak, the persecuted, the lonely, the sick, and those in despair. It is expressed by the desire to give a noble and humanizing meaning to a community in which all members will define themselves not by their own identity but by that of others.

And now, the news!

The continuing commentary from the Legislature …

Healthy Youth Act

• Q-notes points out that while “an incredible step forward” (quoting our own Ian Palmquist), the Healthy Youth Act still includes problematic language, offering faithful, monogamous, heterosexual relationships as the “best” option for preventing sexually transmitted diseases.
  

• If by now you still aren’t convinced, you can read a strongly-worded editorial supporting the HYA from the Wilmington Star News.
  

School Violence Prevention Act

• The Hickory Daily Record received two letters to the editor this week chastising pastors for their criticism of the SVPA and using Christianity to support the act, rather than tear it down.
  

• Ragan Robinson gives voice to senators and citizens on all sides of the debate over the SVPA and its connection to LGBT rights, especially same-sex marriage. It is a WONDERFUL summary!
  

In other NC-related news...

• Our own North Carolina native and founder of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network Kevin Jennings will take his post as assistant deputy secretary of education for the department’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools on July 6th, but not before the conservative Family Research Council has their say. Q-Notes has the story.
  

• Indy Week reminds us that determining what happens to a partner and his or her property after death is another important bundle of rights denied same-sex couples.
  

• For the year in review – in regards to marriage equality in the nation and the state – check out Indy Weeks recent post!
  

• Charlotte and Raleigh are part of a pilot market for a new program of the Human Rights Campaign called “Ya Es Hora” (It’s Time), which aims to help legal resident Latinos through the citizenship process. “The time has come to unite the LGBT and Hispanic Community. We have more in common than differences and we should work on our common issues,” says Cynthia Leigh Lewis, HRC Arizona Political Co-Chair. She hopes that new Latino voters would be able to weigh in on issues important to both communities. Hurrah for Allies!

Across the country, and the world...

• This past Monday, 250 LGBT leaders met with President Obama to commemorate the Stonewall riots and to hear the President’s plans for the future. While a gesture of solidarity from the President, who connected the struggles of the LGBT community to those of the African-Americans and allies that made his election possible, the dinner did not satisfy everyone, and the President offered no hint as to when we could expect his promises to be realized. But he did try to reassure the audience, stating that "I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by word, but by the promises my administration keeps" and that "By the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration." We certainly hope so!
  

• Monday was also a big day for LGBT communities of India, where “Several BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] leaders on Monday defied the ‘gag order’ imposed by the party leadership as they came out in the open in support of gay rights even as the official party line was to skirt the issue.” These comments came out following Sunday’s Queer Pride march – complete with signs, drums, and colorful clothing – in Bangalore. The march was part of a weeklong celebration organized to raise awareness in time with the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
  

• The New York Times examines lagging political action versus popular culture in this week’s article
  

Thanks for reading and Happy Fourth!

Equality in the News: June 20 - 26, 2009

As you have probably already heard, the School Violence Prevention Act PASSED on Tuesday by one vote in the House! This is, as you can probably guess, incredible news for young people in North Carolina and a victory for the LGBT community. This is the first LGBT-inclusive bill to be signed into NC state law and our state becomes the only one in the South to include gender identity in a protective law. What a profound accomplishment.

We must also mention that the Healthy Youth Act passed the Senate 25-21. Though not the original, stronger version, this bill is a great first step in equipping our young people with knowledge to make informed decisions when it comes to sex. More on that below.

We also wanted to say a quick 'thank you' to our talented volunteer and supporter, Daniel Wiggins, who designed the flashy new logo for each week's "In the News" installment.

Without further ado - here's the really good news:

School Violence Prevention Act

• First things first, please take a look at this awesome inside scoop on how the bill got passed, written by our Executive Director and legislative rockstar, Ian Palmquist.
• News14, our state's 24-hour news channel, has an article and video on the bill's success, featuring Ian Palmquist and a great ally, Linda Griffin, who's son will be more protected as a result of the bill's passage.
• After the first vote, the News & Observer ran a front page banner headline Tuesday: "House votes to protect gay kids." The article's failure to make clear the bill protects against all bullying wasn't too helpful as we fought to keep votes for the final vote Tuesday.
  
• As we've seen through the process of trying to get this bill passed, personal stories are of utmost importance in convincing weary legislators of the need for this legislation. Check out the Charlotte Observer's take on our victory, and be sure to read on about Mark James, a student who felt the effects of bullying.
• Greensboro's News & Record mentions how we join only 11 other states with similar protections for making all students safer.
• The Hickory Daily Record was quick to provide an editorial of support of the SVPA after it passed - better late than never!
• Coverage was all over the state - from Western, NC, at GoBlueRidge.net, who noted the bullying bill's success to Eastern NC, where the Rocky Mount Telegram shares news of the win (and a bit about the Healthy Youth Act).
• Our friends at Q-Notes, who graciously helped us spread the word and gain support when the bill was in trouble, has great coverage of the bill and the debate at Monday and Tuesday's votes. They also discuss what's going on with the Healthy Youth Act.
• The Human Rights Campaign's Back Story Blog congratulated us on the landmark victory this week.
  
• GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, applauded our efforts on their official website. GLSEN is the leading national organization advocating for safe schools for LGBT students.
• Awesome blog Feministing mentions our victory with a personal story.
  
• 365Gay, an LGBT-blog, also picked up the story and dished just a little bit on the right-wing effort to get harsh, violent punishments incorporated in the bill.
  
• OutImpact of Wilmington has an awesome article which includes a list of how the Representatives voted. See if your legislator supports protecting all students!
• The work continues - though this is a huge victory, it's also a chance for the misinformed to spread misconceptions and lies. Take, for example, the Beaufort Observer's online edition, which posted an article (editorial?) on the bullying bill. Keep those letters to the editor coming - especially to combat false "reporting" like this!
• We can't forget to mention Pam's House Blend and her coverage of the SVPA. She has brought so much attention and awareness about this bill, and we must thank her for her advocacy and support!
  
• Last week, before the bill was passed, there were ridiculous attempts of connecting being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender to being a pedophile, incestuous, or any other number of sexual disorders. As we all know, this fundamentally isn't true and it's outrageous that our lawmakers can make such false claims. Check out the Progressive Pulse's awesome categorical debunking of every one of those falsehoods.
• Last, and certainly not least, we urge you to read IndyWeek's transcript of the eloquent speech in support of the School Violence Prevention Act from Wake County Rep. Darren Jackson.

On a personal note - I attended the second reading and vote and watched the debate, and it was absolutely stunning to see the strong advocates in support of this bill in action - advocates like Rep. Haire, Rep. Cotham, Rep. Adams (my very own), Rep. Parmon, and of course, Rep. Glazier (and on the Senate side - Sen. Julia Boseman). Their words inspired me and made me feel like LGBT people indeed have thoughtful supporters in Raleigh. I've sent my legislators a thank you for their support - you can look yours up too and either thank them, or press them for real answers as to why they didn't support this important bill.

Healthy Youth Act

• The Fayetteville Observer has an extensive article about the Sex-Ed bill's success in the Senate on Tuesday, and an article ahead of yesterday's House vote.
• Asheville's Citizen-Times also features a story on the Healthy Youth Act's final passage and a quote from supportive legislator Susan Fisher.
• The Winston-Salem Journal reports that the bill is ready to be signed by Gov. Perdue.
  
• WRAL has an editorial in support of more choices for parents when it comes to their child's sex-eductaion.

Other news...

• Just wanted to mention briefly that Equality NC received 3 awards from Q-Notes' reader-decided "QList" - best of the Carolinas awards. Find out what we won. Congratulations to Ian, and Board Members Addison Ore and Mike Nelson for their awards, as well!

Phew! I knew it was going to be a busy week when victory was declared on Tuesday - and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Enjoy your weekend!

On a personal note - It has been an honor working with the small, dedicated and powerful staff of Equality NC to get this bill passed. It's also been an eye-opening journey as I traveled across the state, gathering and listening to stories of people who have felt the affects of bullying. I know that this victory will be seen for years to come in the halls of schools in North Carolina - all of which just got a little bit safer. Congratulations, Equality NC!

Equality in the News: June 12 - June 19, 2009

It's been a tumultuous week for Equality! Nationally, President Obama has come under fire for the questionable brief regarding a federal lawsuit challenging the Defense of Marriage Act. Interestingly, he signed a memorandum this week extending some partner benefits for federal employees. A good start, but we need more.

On the local level, we've seen a lot of action with the School Violence Prevention Act and the Healthy Youth Act. Though it passed committee this week, the SVPA has come under fire from a legislator who is actively persuading other legislators to vote 'no' based on misinformation. As we've seen with the legislature - anything can and will happen, and it's up to us to keep the pressure on our representatives to vote for this important bill. E-mails are great, but personal phone calls are even better if you can - and you can look up who your legislator is and how to contact them here. Here's your weekly news roundup:

• To find out more about the School Violence Prevention Act's roller coaster ride this week, check out Q-Notes story on the events.
• The Fayetteville Observer has the story on how the bullying bill passed it's committee hearing, preparing it for the first of two votes by the House of Representatives on Monday, June 22.
  
• A big reason why we've seen votes in jeopardy this week are because of Rep. Paul Stam's irresponsible and untrue statements at the committee hearing about sexual orientation in the DSM-IV. BlueNC has a must-read about the blatant lies and how damaging they've been to the support for this bill - which, let us remind you, is supported by a strong majority of North Carolinians across party lines.
  
• Charlotte's Creative Loafing blog covers the even morereprehensible comments made by Rep. Paul Stam about same-sex parenting at the committee hearing. Seems like he's modeling his leadership style after the late, not-so-great Jesse Helms.
• OutImpact in Wilmington calls its readers to action for the School Violence Prevention Act and includes great talking points for talking to your legislators or friends about the bill.
• Raleigh's News & Observer wrote about the SVPA's progress and included an anecdote of a mother who removed her child with autism from school because educators blamed him for bullying he received. This bill is meant to protect all students!
• The Fayetteville Observer has the goods on the Healthy Youth Act action for this week. It will be voted on! Keep your calls and e-mails of support coming, folks!
  
• Speaking of allies, the Daily Tar Heel has the story about how some of our supporters organized Boomtown Live, a concert event held to benefit Equality NC. Thank you!

As we're seeing on a national level (and state level), keeping the pressure on our elected officials with impassioned voices of reason is the way to equality. It can get frustrating at times, but we urge you to keep the incredible work towards progress alive by having your voices heard until there's no need. Imagine it - a state of equality, a country where we're all treated equally. It's within our reach - just keep at it!

We look forward to giving you some great news (cross your fingers!) about the School Violence Prevention Act after its vote next week - keep the phone calls and e-mails coming! And enjoy your weekend!

Equality in the News: May 23 - June 5, 2009

Since we last updated you on the equality-related happenings around our state, the United States gained another state that recognizes same-sex marriage: New Hampshire! In addition to this, the Nevada legislature, in an exciting move, went rogue and overrode the governor's veto of a domestic partnership bill for state employees. We congratulate these outstanding strides by NH and NV's state legislatures for protecting the rights of their constituents.

June has officially been proclaimed as LGBT Pride Month by President Obama. Many of you may know that Obama's action/inaction on LGBT issues has been a growing dialogue within our community and beyond - whether or not you feel he's doing enough or has fallen short on promises, it's still exciting to have a President who has a good track record of acknowledging our issues.

Without further ado, here's what's happening in your neck of the woods:

• Q-Notes mentions our upcoming PAC Reception at the RBC Plaza in Raleigh on June 9. You can always check out our website to RSVP, or stop by Q-Notes for the general information.
• News 14, NC's 24-hour news outlet covers the debate on the School Violence Prevention Act as it went through committee last week. Unfortunately, most of that debate focused on wording, and not about the children who are directly affected by intense bullying on a daily basis.
• Raleigh's News & Observer briefly mentions the Healthy Youth Act & SVPA in an article that mostly focuses on the education budget crisis we're currently experiencing. They fail to mention that both of these bills would cost very, very little (if anything) if enacted. (Unlike the Marriage Discrimination Amendment ballot initiative, which would cost our state upwards of $2 million.)
• The good news is that the SVPA has proceeded through the first of two committees, and is heading to the House for a vote very soon. The Greenville Reflector has the story.
  
• If you've been keeping up with the Healthy Youth Act (we know it's difficult!), you may know it's been battled tirelessly. News 14 has that story. If you haven't already, we urge you to take action to help us get this bill passed the way it was intended.
• Heard any good rumors about that former Raleigh mayor? The News & Observer has, specifically the one about how he's gay, and how he considers that to be "vicious" enough to file a libel suit against a Wilmington DJ for spreading it. Our very own Ian Palmquist is on the scene to counter this sad form of homophobia.
• Props to our friends in Asheville for starting a wonderful awareness-raising campaign on HIV/AIDS. The Asheville Citizen-Times has the story on the campaign, called "I Need You to Know." It was started by the Western NC Aids Project.
• Coming up next weekend is both Boone's and Wilmington's PRIDE Festivals. Equality was on the scene last weekend at Triad Pride. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped us out and to all of those who stopped by to learn more about our work.
• We launched a video this week to raise awareness about the School Violence Prevention Act before it heads to the House for the final vote. The video is below, and we encourage you to share it on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, your web page, or with the folks in your address book. The video features real quotes from true stories of bullying gathered from around the state. Help us make this viral campaign a success and take action, if you haven't already. The link for sharing is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVyuIX73B2k

Thanks for checking in with us this week! We'll see you next time.

Equality in the News: May 16 - 22, 2009

It's time for another news roundup! First things first: today marks Harvey Milk's would-be 79th birthday. It's befitting that his birthday should fall on this Memorial Day weekend, a time when we remember our nation's great service men and women. Harvey was a service man of a different kind: a true soldier for gay rights and equality. And he's a soldier whose presence is greatly missed.

And now, the week in equality.

• Our very own Ian Palmquist has an excellent piece featured on NC Policy Watch's website about the recent tragedies in bullying nationwide and a call to action to prevent those kinds of unhappy endings in our state.
• A little while ago, Q-Notes featured an article about the Healthy Youth Act that's currently going through the state legislature. They claim that there is much to be desired with the current version. Sean Kosofsky of NARAL Pro-Choice NC (one of the coalition members for the Healthy Youth Act) and Ian give their opinion here.
• We mentioned last week how one of our strongest advocates, Sen. Julia Boseman, is being recognized for her diligent work for equality. Q-Notes has more on that in case you missed it.
• We also mentioned a little while ago how the great folks at PFLAG Winston-Salem are taking a stand against Virginia Foxx's reprehensible comments (and lack of adequate apologies) with ads. Q-Notes has a great, extensive article about their campaign.
• Much congratulations to one of NC's very own, a fierce advocate for equality and one of the nation's leading bloggers, Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend. She's being honored by the Women's Media Center Awards (along with the likes of Rachel Maddow and Tina Fey!) Thanks for all you do, Pam!

Next week is going to be a big one for the School Violence Prevention Act and the Healthy Youth Act. Let's hope for some good news. Keep checking your e-mail, follow our Twitter for relevant updates, and spread the word - encourage friends and family to call/e-mail their representatives urging their support!

Have a wonderful, relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

Equality in the News: May 9 - 15, 2009

It seems like every week now, we have another state to congratulate on marriage equality. This week, it's New Hampshire, who is thisclose to passing the bill. The governor requests more clear religious freedom protections in the legislation, and then he'll sign it into law. Seems reasonable enough to calm the fears of those on the fence. 6 states now (or within the coming weeks will) have full marriage equality!

On the home front, our state has been buzzing about the success of the School Violence Prevention Act's success in the Senate. To keep you up-to-date: Both the SVPA and Healthy Youth Act met the crossover deadline for bills, and they are one step closer to heading to the Governor's desk. So, keep those calls and e-mails to your Representatives and Senators coming! Here's this week's roundup:

• Raleigh's News & Observer was full of SVPA tidbits over the week, with an excellent column in support of the legislation, as well as a strong editorial supporting the bill. Doesn't stop there - there were also two great letters to the editor: one discussing how wrong it is to exclude LGBTs and one showing some religious compassion.
• Blue NC also features an article about some alarming statistics on bullying. Definitely worth checking out.
  
• Speaking of bullying, The Independent Weekly, a progressive news source out of the Triangle wrote about the School Violence Prevention Act's success and features some good quotes from Ian and mentions a lot of our great allies with this legislation. Check it out!
• Star News Online out of Wilmington has the story of the Frank Harr Foundation's honoring Sen. Julia Boseman for her outstanding efforts with the SVPA. Congratulations to one of our strongest advocates for equality!
• That Marriage Discrimination Amendment is still lurking around the NC State Legislature, and the wonderful folks at BlueNC have a great blog about it, specifically mentioning Advocates for Youth, yet another group who is opposed to this discriminatory legislation. You can also check out WRAL's report from "crossover day," and why Republicans are disappointed (hint: it's near the end of this article.)
  
• Further proof that the far-right isn't letting this bill die without a fight: A rally was held last week in Grifton, NC in support of "traditional marriage." ENC Today (not to be confused with us) has the sad story. The rally's sponsors are a new grassroots group called... wait for it... We Luv Marriage. I'm guessing "We Love Marriage" was already taken?
  
• Carrboro's community newspaper, the Carboro Citizen has an outstanding article on the benefits of the Healthy Youth Act, written by Paige Johnson - a wonderful ally of ours.
• Q-Notes has the story about how hopefully we're one step closer to justice in this tragedy, as the Fayetteville police arrested a suspect in the murder of drag performer Jimmy McCollough.
  
• The Moderate Voice has an interesting article on the new documentary film "Outrage" that's been getting a lot of buzz. (It seeks to out closeted politicians with strong anti-gay voting records - pretty controversial.) It features some quotes from our board member, Dan Gurley.

That's all for now! Stay tuned for next week's roundup, and enjoy your weekend!

PS - We want to say a quick congratulations to all of our supporters who are graduating from college! Having your support while you're dealing with all the stress of college means the world to us, and we wish you only the best in your future endeavors.

Equality in the News: May 2 - 8, 2009

First things first: The School Violence Prevention Act passed in the Senate on a final vote of 26-22! We know this has everything to do with the e-mails, phone calls, personal meetings, postcards that you were a part of, so thank you for helping to pass the first ever LGBT-inclusive bill in the North Carolina State Senate! Now, let's get it passed in the House and make schools safer for all students in NC. Lots of stories on that bill from across the state below.

The Healthy Youth Act still needs your help, so keep making those calls and sending those e-mails to give parents a choice on which sex-ed curriculum is taught to their students. Of course, on the national level, we can't forget to congratulate Maine on becoming the 5th state to take a stand for same-sex marriage. It's all happening so fast, isn't it? And now, on to the news:

School Violence Prevention Act:

• North Carolina Public Radio's fabulous Laura Leslie covers the Senate debate on the bill in her blog, including the opposition's indignity towards openly gay and bill champion Sen. Boseman, and it includes a great audio clip from the debate from Sen. McKissick of Durham.
• The Charlotte Observer has a great editorial supporting the bill.
• Public Policy Polling's blog has an interesting article on how Republican Senators may or may not be following their constituent's opinions when it comes to the bullying bill, considering most Republican voters support the bill, but no Republicans in the Senate voted for it).
  
• Raleigh's News & Observer's political blog, Under the Dome, notes the crazy idea being pushed by the Catholic bishops that protecting LGBT kids from bullying will lead directly to same-sex marraige. Seems like they're missing that the bill that clearly states it creates no protected or suspect classes. (Bill sponsor Sen. Julia Boseman even directly refuted this claim, which you can read about at WUNC.)
• Q-Notes offers their take on the historic passage.
  
• National gay blog Queerty discusses the School Violence Prevention Act here. Be careful, they refer to us as "New Hampshire" towards the end of the article, but it's really us they're talking about!
  

Healthy Youth Act:

• Wilmington's Star News online covered the bill's action here. New Hanover County is the only in the state to offer the three options - comprehensive, abstinence-only or no sex education and finds that most parents prefer comprehensive over any other.
• The Daily Reflector of Greenville, NC also weighed in on the Healthy Youth Act in this editorial.

Non-Discrimination:

• Carborro's recent attempt to create equal and fair housing opportunities for all of its citizens (the attempt was to add sexual orientation/gender identity and expression to the enumerated list) was blocked by the House of Representatives. The Carrboro Citizen has an opinion piece about that here.
  

Virginia Foxx:

• Kudos to Winston-Salem's PFLAG for having their voices heard in the Winston-Salem Journal and YES! Weekly with ads denouncing Virginia Foxx's recent appalling comments on Matthew Shepard's death while debating the Federal Hate Crimes Bill.

That about does it for this week. There's sure to be more stories and opinions about the passage of the SVPA over the weekend, so we'll be looking! Enjoy your weekend, and thanks again for all that you do for Equality NC.

Being Heard - HIV/AIDS Lobby Day

by ENC volunteer, Gabe
Personal advocacy like Gabriel's makes a big difference - Ian

It’s a beautiful day as I set off with the crisp, gentle, snowflakes flashing past my car as I travel from the mountains to Raleigh on April 7, 2009. I make it to Baptist Hospital at Wake Forest University, to my 8 am doctor’s appointment an 30 minutes early (unusual for me). I arrive to the same friendly, up-to-date staff that treated me two years ago, when I first conjured up the gall to go to a doctor to check and monitor my status.

I am HIV-positive and this is a routine three month check up, I am so lucky to be able to attend. Thankfully this appointment’s cost will be covered by the Ryan White Care Act. My doctor’s appointment and the lobby day for HIV/AIDS and the Healthy Youth Act end and begin simultaneously, and I am left with another, even longer, drive to Raleigh from Winston-Salem.

I set off on another round of driving and parking, and I search for and find the legislative building. I am hesitant to arrive late to such an important meeting, and consider turning back. However, I overcome my fear and walk up the large red-carpeted stairs. At the top, I am greeted by a trusty Equality North Carolina worker. I sign in with her as I receive a packet of information briefing me on lobby tips, comprehensive safe sex and HIV/AIDS statistics, and directions to find where the group is currently meeting.

After being a Senate Page of the Week in 2000 for then Watauga County's then-Senator Virginia Foxx, I believe I can hold my own maneuvering the maze of offices and corridors of the legislative building.

After accidentally walking in a circle twice, and being three hours late to the meeting scheduled with my House representative, Cullie Tarleton, I interpret the signs in my mind, and they tell me, “I planned too much for one day, and should head back the way I came, as to not make more mistakes. I am so disrespectful for showing up late.” These negative, self-defeating thoughts flood my head as I walk back to where I parked. I tell myself, “I should’ve known better than driving four-and-a-half hours to tell my story to people who have heard it all before.” I figure I’ve set myself up for failure and need to try again next time, when I’ve set myself up for success.

As I sit in the car, I notice the school groups walking around taking tours to learn about their state's proud capitol, and realize that these kids are the reason I am here. I notice I share the same desire to learn as I watch their eyes, which are full of amazement. I also take into account the many doctors, case workers, and other silent positive friends need our voice and need to be heard to ears that will listen. I know that if I had been properly educated about sex and been around open, safe dialogue where I could talk about my problems, I might not be in the situation I am in. For these children, future children, and myself, I owe a visit to share my unique story of how HIV has affected my life.

I walk proudly with a smile, re-tuck my shirt, and splash my face with water. I return to the lobby and find the group I set out to find all day long, others just like myself who have personal knowledge of this affliction. I set off determined to speak to someone and make a difference.

Surprisingly I easily find the office number of Representative Tarleton, ask his assistant if he has a quick moment to converse, then I sit and wait. When I finally meet Cullie Tarleton, he greets me with a smile and seems to genuinely care for the reason for my visit.

To begin, I thank him for being a proud sponsor of the School Violence Prevention Act, which protects a list of enumerated classes from harassment in school. He responds by telling me that major opposition is being received from parents. I am astonished to learn that parents don’t want safe school environments. I also ask him to support the Healthy Youth Act, a new bill being debated on the House floor which if passed will offer a two-track system to sex education.

I tell him a story of when I was physically harassed, and how HIV has affected my life. I tell him how I believe we can stop the growing number of people with HIV by educating them early on about the subject, and including kids in school in educational conversations about topics they know little or nothing about. I tell my legislator how these two bills go hand in hand, how kids (until they feel school is a safe environment) will not be able to talk openly about themselves and in turn will find other means to discover themselves. I don’t want others to have to learn by making the same mistakes myself and others have made. I want them to learn by having an open mind and being knowledgeable about the subject before it becomes an issue.

To my surprise, Cullie Tarleton responded with, “I’m sorry to hear about your struggles with these issues. I personally have also been affected indirectly and wish the same as you for our youth.” He tells me, “Thank you for your courage to be open. I do stand with you on the subject. In fact, you’re preaching to the choir.” These statements of acceptance brought me great relief.

To know that a voice and perspective like mine is represented in our state senate makes me want to be more active in advocacy, which makes me feel more important as a voter and a person. No doubt, this will not be the last time I go to speak with my legislators. Hopefully in the future, I will not travel alone, and will bring a choir of voices from the mountains to the Capitol.

I continue to call Cullie Tarleton and Senator Steve Goss, to ask them to support these bills. Hopefully soon, we will see change happening in our schools, workplace, and community.