Weekly news from the GLBT world http://www.windycitytimes.com/windycitytimes.html 2012-05-22T21:07:22-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://www.windycitytimes.com/images/publications/wct/2012-05-16/current.jpg text/html 2012-05-14T01:40:37-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/GMHC-fights-to-end-the-AIDS-epidemic-uplift-all-affected/37675.html New York, NY--Thirty years ago, Gay Men's Health Crisis GMHC formed to pro-actively and aggressively fight a virus that was ravaging large metropolitan cities of America. As a global leader in developing and supporting best practices to combat HIV, GMHC staunchly supports the expansion of all available tools to combat HIV. On Thursday, May 10, at the Food and Drug Administration FDA, the Antiviral Drug Advisory Committee convened a meeting to discuss expanding the usage of an effective HIV anti-retroviral therapy ART, Truvada. Clinical research has been conducted since 2007 to explore if the medication could be used not only to hinder HIV replication for HIV-positive individuals, but potentially to stop HIV acquisition altogether for HIV-negative persons as a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis PrEP. text/html 2012-05-09T12:51:17-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Ross Forman, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Michael-Reyes-One-AIDS-LifeCycle-participants-story/37604.html When Michael Reyes saw a documentary years ago about the annual AIDS/LifeCycle, a seven-day ride down the California coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles, he was moved, inspired and motivated. But he also was convinced he personally would never/ could never tackle the 545-mile journey. text/html 2012-05-16T12:30:15-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-30-series-honored-with-Lisagor-Award/37725.html CHICAGO — The Chicago Headline Club, the largest Society of Professional Journalists chapter in the country, on May 4 announced the winners of its 2011 Lisagor Awards. The awards honor the best in Chicago journalism. text/html 2012-05-02T14:50:46-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-organization-honors-Pelosi/37536.html The National AIDS Memorial Grove honored U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi for "25 years in Congress as a national leader, champion and hero on the issue of HIV/AIDS and her avid support of the LGBT community during a special Community Volunteer Workday" at the Grove in San Francisco April 21. text/html 2012-05-02T14:09:07-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-30-The-final-installment/37522.html This week marks the end of our special 13-month Windy City Times AIDS @ 30 series. It started the first week of April 2011. Initially it was expected to be nine months, then we kept expanding it with articles submitted by a range of Windy City Times reporters. While we will of course continue to cover AIDS issues in Windy City Times, as we have since our founding in 1985, this special section will come to an end this week. text/html 2012-05-02T14:06:38-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Erica Demarest, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/CORE-Center-working-on-HIV-AIDS-healthcare/37521.html In the mid-1990s, HIV/AIDS treatment in Cook County could best be described as disjointed. text/html 2012-05-02T14:03:05-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Ross Forman, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Dr-Garner-helps-people-with-AIDS-from-a-mental-health-standpoint/37520.html Though he has not been personally impacted by HIV/AIDS in terms of close friends or family, Dr. Grady L. Garner, Jr., has certainly been impacted directly—through the lives of those who he has treated as their psychotherapist during his post-doctoral clinic year at the Ruth M. Rothstein Core Center. text/html 2012-05-01T23:25:40-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Advocates-support-approval-of-PrEP-/37490.html New York, May 1, 2012 — In public comments submitted this week, a group of 14 leading HIV/AIDS and health organizations stated their support for Food and Drug Administration FDA approval of emtricitabine/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate TDF/FTC or Truvada® as pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP to prevent HIV infection in adult men and women. Their comments, submitted in advance of a May 10 FDA Advisory Committee meeting, pointed to compelling evidence on the efficacy of TDF/FTC as PrEP and highlighted the unique potential of this intervention to help slow the HIV epidemic in the US. text/html 2012-05-01T03:29:58-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/CDPH-launches-new-HIV-council/37489.html In a move that will sew together two historically disparate efforts, the Chicago Department of Public Health CDPH has announced a new HIV planning council that combines HIV service and prevention. text/html 2012-04-25T14:11:26-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Joe Franco http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Legal-Council-Trench-warfare-for-those-with-HIV-AIDS/37426.html Chicago attorney James Monroe Smith founded the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago ALCC in 1987 during the height of American fear and hysteria surrounding AIDS. text/html 2012-04-25T13:44:14-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Names-Project-Quilting-in-Chicago/37425.html The Names Project Foundation visits Chicago's TPAN to create new panels for The AIDS Memorial Quilt, Call My Name Campaign April 28, 12-4 p.m., 5537 N. Broadway in Chicago. text/html 2012-04-25T13:42:46-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Sarah Toce http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-AIDS-Quilt-returns-to-DC/37424.html The 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will host the AIDS Memorial Quilt as it is presented on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. June 27—July 1, and July 4—8, 2012. text/html 2012-04-25T13:41:36-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-news-budget-fundraising-theater-Africa-reunion/37423.html AIDS groups criticize planned Illinois budget cuts text/html 2012-04-25T13:36:31-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Ross Forman, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Partner-pushes-to-remember-those-lost-/37422.html In lieu of a gravesite and headstone, Philip D. Luing now has a permanent memorial marker honoring the life of his former partner, Jeff Lalonde, who died of AIDS complications in 1994. text/html 2012-04-25T13:09:33-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Ross Forman http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Ride-for-AIDS-inspires-beyond-Chicago-area/37421.html The donation came last year from an acquaintance in New York City who Christopher Thomas Hongosh had only previously met twice while country line-dancing. It was, ultimately, the largest donation Hongosh received in his Ride For AIDS Chicago RFAC fundraising campaign, but it was the message—not just the money—that truly meant the most to Hongosh. text/html 2012-04-21T15:04:08-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Call-My-Name-AIDS-Quilt-panel-making-workshop-April-28/37378.html The Names Project Foundation visits Chicago's TPAN to create new panels for The AIDS Memorial Quilt, "Call My Name" Campaign. aChurch4Me MCC, TPAN, and the Names Project are hosting on Saturday April 28. The workshop is free and open to the public. text/html 2012-04-18T14:12:04-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Erica Demarest, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-WHARP-coordinates-West-Side-response/37315.html Like so many of the organizations that arose during the AIDS epidemic's early years, the West Side HIV/AIDS Regional Planning Council WHARP got its start with two simple elements: concerned citizens and a problem. text/html 2012-04-18T14:08:19-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Gregory Trotter, AIDS Foundation of Chicago http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-At-85-a-mother-walks-for-her-son-/37314.html Mae Smith sits with her two of her daughters in her homey Glendale Heights kitchen. A coffeepot gurgles from the counter. Her youngest granddaughter plays quietly in the adjacent living room. text/html 2012-04-11T11:39:11-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Jamie Anne Royce http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Black-caucus-hosts-conversations-on-HIV/37214.html HIV/AIDS researchers, service providers, public health advocates and community members gathered for Conversations on HIV Research March 28 at the University of Chicago. text/html 2012-04-11T11:29:39-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Ross Forman, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Mr-Friendly-confronts-AIDS-fears/37213.html Dave Watt has a simple message: Be stigma-free of HIV. text/html 2012-04-11T11:19:56-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kergan Edwards-Stout and Gregory G. Allen http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Authors-write-about-HIV-AIDS/37212.html [ Editor's note: Authors Kergan Edwards-Stout Songs for the New Depression and Gregory G. Allen Well With My Soul both had their debut novels short-listed for the 2011 Independent Literary Awards. Recently, the writers met in person at the Rainbow Book Fair in New York City, where they greeted fans, performed readings, and signed copies of their novels. Though their books tell very different stories, both are set in the past, use musical cues to help tell their tales, and touch on many common themes: gay identity, HIV/AIDS, and how poor self-esteem can lead to unforeseen consequences. What follows is a conversation between the authors. ] text/html 2012-04-11T11:10:11-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Ross Forman, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Dan-Anthon-uses-art-in-fight-against-AIDS/37211.html Dan Anthon took a skills inventory test on a computer back in 1984, and the result said that his strongest skills were in art and design. text/html 2012-04-04T19:40:32-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/The-AIDS-Memorial-Quilt-to-return-to-Washington-DC/37129.html ATLANTA — Majestic. Devastating. Moving. The AIDS Memorial Quilt — one of the world's most powerful symbols of the public's response to the AIDS epidemic — will return to the nation's capital this summer for two major programs. Deemed by an act of Congress to be a National Treasure, The Quilt now consists of more than 47,000 panels representing the lives of 94,000 individuals taken by AIDS, sewn by more than 100,000 friends and family members. text/html 2012-04-04T14:33:21-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Sarah Toce http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Steven-Wakefield-former-Chicagoan-speaks-about-AIDS-30/37100.html Steven Wakefield has waged war on the destruction of HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic more than 30 years ago. In this interview, the former Howard Brown Health Center director shows us the very real and personal scars obtained on the quest toward a cure in his lifetime. The former Chicagoan now lives in Seattle, still working on fighting HIV/AIDS. text/html 2012-04-04T14:25:39-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Erica Demarest, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Advocates-push-against-healthcare-budget-cuts/37098.html HIV advocates urged Illinois lawmakers to resist healthcare budget cuts as the Illinois House Human Services Appropriations Committee gathered March 16 in downtown Chicago. text/html 2012-04-04T14:23:57-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-LOGO-airs-Positive-Youth-/37096.html LOGO TV's documentary Positive Youth shines a light on the new reality of living HIV+. The film follows four dynamic youth, ages 18 to 27 who are either infected or affected by HIV. text/html 2012-04-04T14:23:24-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-HUD-gives-33-million-to-HIV-AIDS-housing/37095.html The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced March 29 that more than 1,200 extremely low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS will continue to receive permanent housing as a result of nearly $33 million in grants HUD is awarding. text/html 2012-04-04T14:24:31-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Red-Ribbon-event-held-/37097.html Elected officials and activists joined together for an event hosted by Tumia Romero for the Illinois Quality of life, Red Ribbon Cash lottery. text/html 2012-04-04T14:21:57-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-AIDS-30-Playboy-Playmate-Rebecca-Armstrong-/37094.html Like many others, former Playboy Playmate Rebekka Armstrong thought that HIV could not affect her. When she became ill at age 22, she found out she was wrong. text/html 2012-04-04T14:31:10-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Erica Demarest, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-ACLU-takes-on-the-tough-cases-including-HIV-AIDS/37099.html A teacher fired from her post. text/html 2012-04-04T14:18:55-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-30-Activist-Bob-Hattoy-/37093.html Robert Keith Hattoy was born on Nov. 1, 1950 in Providence, R.I., and was open about his homosexuality for as long as he could remember. He was the son of a mechanical engineer and a school registrar. Hattoy became politically active protesting the Vietnam War; he said he considered politics a form of lifesaving. text/html 2012-04-03T01:17:07-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Kushner-featured-at-AFC-dinner-/37052.html Award-winning playwright Tony Kushner Angels in America was the keynote speaker at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's AFC's annual spring dinner, An Angel Among Us: An Evening with Pulitzer Prize-winning Playwright Tony Kushner. text/html 2012-04-03T00:41:16-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Run-Walk-Sept-29-woman-85-honors-son-for-20th-year-/37051.html CHICAGO — A model of commitment and determination, Mae Smith has not missed a single AIDS Run & Walk Chicago since her son, Ron, died of AIDS 20 years ago. text/html 2012-04-02T14:46:51-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Howard-Brown-and-feds-negotiate-repayment-settlement/37040.html Chicago-based Howard Brown Health Center HBHC has reached a settlement with the federal government to repay funds associated with five federally awarded grants. text/html 2012-03-30T18:32:08-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/White-House-action-on-HIV-AIDS-and-girls-women/37028.html As the Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls, it is my honor to join Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy and Lynn Rosenthal, the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, in announcing the next step in President Obama's commitment to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst women and girls. Please read on for more details. text/html 2012-03-29T15:30:48-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/HUD-gives-33-million-to-HIV-AIDS-housing/37018.html WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced March 29 that more than 1,200 extremely low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS will continue to receive permanent housing as a result of nearly $33 million in grants HUD is awarding. Annually, these grants will provide permanent supportive housing for over 1,200 households so they can manage their health and access needed supportive services such as case management and employment training. text/html 2012-03-28T13:32:25-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Local-activists-lobby-around-syringe-exchange-/36986.html According to HIV/AIDS advocates, the cost of a clean syringe is just 72 cents. Treating AIDS over a lifetime costs an average of $300,000. text/html 2012-03-28T12:43:02-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Erica Demarest, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Attorney-John-Hammell-He-fought-the-good-fight/36979.html By the time he was 37 years old, John Hammell had accomplished more than most people do in a much longer lifetime. text/html 2012-03-28T12:37:05-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Emmanuel Garcia http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Pedro-Zamora-at-40/36978.html If Pedro Zamora was alive today he would have turned 40 on Feb. 29, something that was inconceivable to him at 22 when he filmed MTV's The Real World: San Francisco. text/html 2012-03-28T12:34:51-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com JON-HENRI DAMSKI http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-PISD-a-look-back/36977.html The following column ran in the April 9, 1992 Windy City Times. We are re-printing it now in tribute to longtime Chicago gay columnist Jon-Henri Damski, who was born March 31, 1937 and died Nov. 1, 1997. The column has been slightly edited. text/html 2012-03-28T12:30:32-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-group-Elizabeth-Taylors-legacy-lives-on/36976.html On the one-year anniversary of the passing of Elizabeth Taylor Feb. 27, 1932—March 23, 2011 , the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation AHF said Taylor's groundbreaking legacy on AIDS continues to live on. text/html 2012-03-28T12:28:02-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Erica Demarest, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Groups-testify-for-Affordable-Care-Act/36975.html As the U.S. Supreme Court gears up for oral arguments, two HIV/AIDS heavyweights are urging justices to find the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ACA constitutional. text/html 2012-03-28T12:17:44-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Jamie Anne Royce http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-HIV-advocates-honored-for-work/36974.html The AIDS Legal Council of Chicago ALCC in partnership with the Windy City Times presented Outstanding Advocate of the Year awards to six people working in the HIV/AIDS community. text/html 2012-03-21T13:20:55-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Schakowsky-Quigley-help-Chicago-House-announce-grant/36838.html HIV/AIDS agency Chicago House hosted a press conference March 15 announcing an unprecedented grant in support of the iFour Employment Program from the U.S. Department of Education. text/html 2012-03-21T12:34:13-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Ross Forman, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-David-Raes-sports-legacy-helps-fundraise-for-causes/36832.html David Rae was a sports junkie growing up in Southern California. He played, watched and collected. He was a high school football quarterback who transitioned into cornerback and played for the prestigious California Interscholastic Federation CIF championship while also, GLEE-like, participating in his high school's choir. text/html 2012-03-21T12:59:01-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Obama-names-Colfax-Director-Office-of-Natl-AIDS-Policy/36833.html President Obama announced the appointment March 14 of one of the nation's leading public health policy experts as the Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy ONAP . text/html 2012-03-21T12:32:01-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Lambda-Legal-130-HIV-orgs-support-Affordable-Care-Act-/36831.html Lambda Legal released a list of 130 HIV and healthcare advocacy and direct-service organizations who have endorsed Lambda Legal's friend-of-the-court brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in several cases challenging the constitutionality of the law the week of March 26, 2012. text/html 2012-03-21T12:27:49-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Gay-priest-who-helped-people-with-AIDS-subject-of-new-book/36830.html Father Richard Purcell was an openly gay Franciscan priest who died in 2011 of Lou Gehrig's disease. text/html 2012-03-21T12:22:27-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-Legal-Council-of-Chicago-Windy-City-Times-Advocates-of-Year-/36829.html The AIDS Legal Council of Chicago ALCC and Windy City Times will be hosting the 18th annual Advocates of the Year Awards Thursday, March 22 to recognize several outstanding men and women who are working locally to make a difference in the lives of people with HIV. The reception will be held at Sidley Austin LLP at One South Dearborn in downtown Chicago. text/html 2012-03-21T12:17:58-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AIDS-news-HIV-research-violence-color-lines/36828.html Blacks, research and HIV subject of program