The federal chief of AIDS research says he believes drug companies do not have an incentive to create a vaccine for HIV and are likely to wait to profit from it after the government develops one, according to an Associated Press item. 'If we look at the vaccine, HIV vaccine, we're going to have an HIV vaccine. It's not going to be made by a company,' Dr. Edmund Tramont, head of the AIDS research division of the National Institutes of Health, said. 'They're dropping out like flies because there's no real incentive for them to do it. We have to do it.'
Dr. Charles W. Socarides, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who saw homosexuality as a mental illness, died on Christmas Day at age 83, according to The New York Times. Socarides, whose gay son, Richard, was an adviser to the Clinton White House on gay and lesbian issues, was a clinical professor of psychiatry, an author of several books about homosexuality and a talk-show regular.
Rosie O'Donnell made a 'generous' offer of support to Canadian political candidate Peg Norman—which she turned down, 365Gay.com reported. ( Norman and O'Donnell have known each other for years. ) In a visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 2005, O'Donnell praised Canada for its treatment of gays and lesbians and the legalization of same-sex marriage. Norman said she turned the money down because Rosie is not a Canadian citizen. Norman's partner, filmmaker Gerry Rogers, appeared on O'Donnell's talk show in 2000 to discuss her film, My Left Breast—a film she made after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, The Globe & Mail reported.
Susan P. Kennedy, a prominent lesbian Democrat who will soon take over as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's chief of staff, supported his veto of a same-sex marriage bill, according to The New York Times. Despite the fact that she 'married' her partner in a 1999 commitment ceremony on Maui, Kennedy cited the voters' support for defining marriage as between a man and a woman in a statewide ballot measure several years ago and suggested that pushing the gay-rights envelope too far could prompt a backlash.
The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland announced plans to distribute and facilitate the distribution of 1 million condoms to northeast Ohio residents during the next two years, according to Advocate.com . The announcement follows the agency's just-completed 'Wrap It Up, Cleveland' campaign, in which 50,000 condoms were handed out in the city in mid-December.
In New York, Rikers Island prison is set to close its unit for gay and transgender inmates, The New York Times reported. Under the new rules, gay or transgender inmates who want protection from general-population criminals must apply for it in a special hearing. If granted, the protective custody requires inmates to be held in individual cells for 23 hours a day, just as inmates punished for disciplinary reasons are held.
In California, a San Jose homeowner reported finding an anti-gay epithet burned into his front lawn and vehicle in what is being investigated as a possible hate crime, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
An organizer of a 'gay-friendly' prom in Tracy, Calif., does not plan to disclose the site until a month before the April 13 event to head off a potential protest by the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., The Oakland Tribune reported. The church, headed by Rev. Fred Phelps and known for its 'God hates fags' slogan, protested last spring's graduation ceremonies at Tracy and another Central Valley high school.
In California, a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage will not be placed on the June 2006 ballot after the group working to put that issue on the ballot failed to meet a signature-gathering deadline, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. ProtectMarriage.com needed 598,104 signatures to qualify the measure, but fell about 200,000 signatures short.
A Florida man suspected of preying on gay men, and charged with the March 2001 murder of a Fort Lauderdale warehouse manager, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for violating his probation, according to The Miami Herald. Kevin Hoffman, in jail awaiting trial for the killing of Michael Sortal, has been charged with having marijuana in his cell and of falsely accusing a sheriff's deputy of striking him with a can of tear gas.
The head of a northern Iowa branch of the Ku Klux Klan is organizing a rally in Des Moines to protest attempts to legalize gay marriages in the state, according to WQAD.com . Douglas Sadler, the imperial leader of the region's Klan, stated that his group is not happy with lawsuits filed on behalf of six gay couples to change the state's marriage laws.
Maine's gay-rights law took effect Dec. 28, according to WLBZ2.com . In November, Maine residents voted 55 to 45 percent against repealing the law, which makes sexual orientation discrimination illegal regarding employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and education.
An advocacy group helping a transgender woman applying for U.S. citizenship has charged that a government immigration official inappropriately questioned her about her gender identity and demanded a letter verifying her original sex, the Washington Blade reported. The transgender applicant, who asked to be identified only as 'Gloria,' said the incident took place at the Garden Hills, N.Y., Citizenship & Immigration Services in November.
The Book of Daniel, an NBC drama about an Episcopal priest, has prompted protest from right-wing religious activists—in part because the show features a gay character as the priest's son, Gay.com reported. The American Family Association is urging members to send letters of protest to the network about the show. However, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation called the show 'witty and unconventional' and lauded the show's gay character, played by Christian Campbell.
Local Roundup
'The Art-See Fart-See Show,' an exhibition of new paintings by Erik R. Sosa, will be shown Jan. 12 at Wag Artworks, 2121 W. Division, 6-9 p.m. Donations benefit Urban Gateways, an organization that uses art to change children's lives. Call ( 773 ) 772-2922.
The Midwest chapter of Lambda Legal will hold its 5th Annual Freedom to Marry Reception on Feb. 9, 7-9 p.m., at High Risk Gallery, 1113 W. Belmont. The event will feature a bouquet toss, music and guest speaker Rick Garcia of Equality Illinois. E-mail Catina Lowery at CLowery@lambdalegal.org .
The Youth Pride Center's Young Adult Program hosts 'Chemistry,' a weekly retreat for those 21 to 31, every Thursday at 7 p.m. at 534 E. 46th Pl. For more info, e-mail youthpridecenter@gmail.com .
Amigas Latinas will host 'Dia de Los Reyes/Noche de Las Reinas' ( 'Day of the Kings/Night of the Queens' ) on Jan. 6 at Galeria Cuca, 2701 W. Division, 8 p.m.-12 a.m. The suggested donation is $5. Call ( 312 ) 409-5697.
Catherine 'Katie' Batza, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Illinois-Chicago, will present 'Before AIDS: Gay and Lesbian Community Health Centers in the 1970s' at Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 17. Call ( 773 ) 381-8030 or see www.gerberhart.org .
Rainbow Hospice is hosting a monthly daytime group, 'Walking the Grief Journey' ( for those who have lost loved ones within the past 18 months ) on Feb. 8, March 8, and the second Wednesday of subsequent months from 1-2:30 p.m. at 444 N. Northwest Highway in Park Ridge. Call ( 847 ) 692-8884.
