The New York Post reports that President Bush's AIDS czar, Dr. Tom Coburn, 'has canceled his subscription to Poz magazine in a huff after the gay lifestyle glossy ran a racy cover photo of 80 nude, HIV-positive readers.' The special 10th anniversary of the magazine looked back at the last 10 years of the magazine, and of AIDS. It is a wonderful tribute to the survivors, and those lost. Coburn, co-chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, 'faxed a handwritten letter to the magazine's Meatpacking District offices last week, scrawling, 'Please remove from mailing list immediately,' over his name and address,' the Post said. Poz founder and chairman Sean Strub, who is among those naked on the cover, said 'The irony is that literally this is the only complaint that we have received so far about the cover.'
Those Army folks pictured making fun of Iraq prisoners are being punished. Part of the concern is showing a woman making fun of a naked man, and forcing male prisoners to simulate sex with one another. The U.S. military using gender and homophobia to debase prisoners? Could it be that the military culture of sexism and homophobia, long tolerated and institutionalized from the top down, translates to how soldiers treat prisoners? Is it any surprise that this happens? The only surprise is that this time they are being punished. If it were not for their 'Kodak' moment, however, it is doubtful anyone would have been disciplined for simply honoring the tradition of bigotry.
CLTV's LeeAnn Trotter filmed at the Windy City Gay Idol contest at Hunter's. The shots should air Thursday, May 6 at 8:30 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday ar 11:30 a.m.
On Wed., May 5, American Justice presents 'A Soldier's Secret,' an in-depth look at the murder of PFC Barry Winchell, including an interview with Kathi S. Westcott, Senior Counsel for Law & Policy with Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.