Bishop resigns after ordaining lesbian
After admitting that he had engaged in "ecclesiastical disobedience" by helping to ordain a lesbian in St. Paul, Minn., Lutheran Bishop Paul Egertson resigned last week.
Last month, Egertson, who is the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Southern California ( West ) Synod, became the first bishop to join in the ordination of a noncelibate gay man or lesbian. The church will only ordain celibate gays and lesbians.
The Rev. Anita Hill, who is in a committed relationship, was ordained by Egertson and others at St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, where Hill has led a ministry to gays for 20 years.
Study finds link between HIV meds, liver toxicity
A study of 10,000 adult AIDS patients has confirmed doctors' fears that antiretroviral therapy is associated with a high rate of severe liver toxicity, Reuters Health reports.
The patients, spread over 21 cities, took different combinations including one or more antiretrovirals. Overall, 10% of patients developed grade 3 and 4 hepatotoxicity and 23% of them had to discontinue therapy permanently. According to the data, 2.5% of all deaths in the study period were liver related.
Tippecanoe OKs bias ban
After years of lobbying and debate, the Tippecanoe County, Ind., Commissioners have unanimously approved a non-discrimination ordinance that includes sexual orientation.
Anti-gay church
loses deed
In Madison, Wisc., the state Supreme Court ruled last week that a rural church that broke away from the United Methodist Church in 1997 because of what they perceived to be an increasingly liberal attitude toward gays, cannot keep the deed to the church.
In a 5-2 decision, the court ruled that the deed to the Elo United Methodist church in Utica, belongs to the Methodists, not the congregation.
The congregation had sued to keep the deed to the church, arguing the church had to be abandoned to be declared defunct, before it could be returned to the Methodists under a 1923 state law.
Daschle issues statement on AIDS meeting
After meeting with UN Secretary Koffi Annan and other senators, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Dashcle issued a statement commending Annan's efforts in raising AIDS awareness: "... The Secretary General is right to call for a coordinated response. Government, foundations and corporations throughout the world must work together to confront this humanitarian, economic and security crisis." Daschle goes on to say that although President Bush has raised the issue of AIDS, the real test is whether Congress and the President can work together to provide the resources necessary.
Gonorrhea on the rise
Researchers at the CDC report a disturbing increase in the number of cases of gonorrhea among gay and bisexual men in the U.S., suggesting unsafe sexual practices that could lead to more cases of AIDS.
Dr. Kimberley Fox, who led the study, said exact figures are unknown, but clinics in San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Chicago, Denver, Portland, Oregon, Long Beach, California, and Honolulu, have all shown a rise in cases.
Gay dean of L.A. City Council resigns
Joel Wachs, the dean of the Los Angeles City Council, said last week that he will resign his post to become president of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in New York City.
Wachs, who came out last year as a gay man, will vacate his seat Oct. 1.
Near to perform at
lesbian health confab
In addition to focusing on access to care, cancer, mental health and wellness, the first National Lesbian Health Conference will include an all-day grant-writing workshop and a benefit concert by Holly Near.
The conference is June 22-23 at the University of California-San Francisco. The workshop will be held on June 21 and is free to conference participants. Conference admission is $75. The workshop will be conducted by grant officers from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Chicago's Lesbian Community Cancer Project will participate.
See www.glma.org .
Report: Cardinal George denies communion to gays
The Rainbow Sash Movement reports that June 3 a public debate was developing between Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, who denies communion to gay Catholics, and Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who allows Communion. "These two represent a broader debate in the National Council of Catholic Bishops about diversity and inclusion concerning Gay, Lesbian, Bi and Transsexual People" said RSM in a press release. "Both looking at the same position of the Roman Catholic Church and each responding very differently."
See www.rainbowsashmovement.org/
