Lesbian couples wanted for research study on Proposition 8
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 02 February 2010
The aim of this research is to explore the meaning of marriage to lesbian couples marginalized by the California State Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8 and the affects of minority stress on some lesbian couples now barred from the legal institution of marriage in California. The research focus is on the lived experiences of lesbian couples and it seeks to make visible the hidden hierarchies of heterosexism.
The results of this research will be used to educate social workers and other professionals in order to advocate for equal rights in the civil rights debate on marriage equality in the State of California. Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act creates less social equality for same-sex couples in the State of California and has marginalized lesbian couples that would like access to the legal entitlements, regardless of their marital status and may have created mental health problems, as a result of this social policy.
Participant criteria:
--Five to Seven lesbian couples that are currently living together in the State of California and would like to get married.
--Aged 18 years or older
Please contact: Margo J. Randolph, MSW student at (559)790-0048 or rose29@csufresno.edu for more information.
Written by Victoria Colliver, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, 08 December 2009
San Francisco health officials reported an alarming increase in new syphilis cases last year after years of declines.
New syphilis cases rose 55.8 percent in 2008 over the previous year, San Francisco public health officials reported.
The increase was significantly lower than the dramatic spikes reported early in the decade, when new infections increased 167 percent from 2001 to 2002. But last year's rise would seem to indicate an increase in unsafe sexual practices, which could lead to a rise in HIV infection rates.
San Francisco health experts said they have not seen an increase in new HIV cases and cannot explain the reason for it.
"We don't have a single explanation to tie it to, but we do know reported risk behaviors haven't changed dramatically," said Dr. Susan Philip, acting director of the sexually transmitted disease prevention and control services unit of San Francisco's Health Department, which published the new findings in its 2008 summary of sexually transmitted diseases.
HIV Infections Continue to Rise Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men
Written by Latino Commission on AIDS
Tuesday, 08 December 2009
December 2, 2009 - New York , New York - The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene commemorated World AIDS Day by releasing new data to highlight continuing challenges in the struggle to contain HIV in New York City . The number of new HIV diagnoses has not changed significantly in recent years; the total for 2008 is not yet final but appears very close to the 2007 total of 3,965. Yet the number and proportion of new diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM) continues its alarming trend upwards. Preliminary numbers suggest that MSM accounted for 42% of the city’s new HIV diagnoses last year, up from 37% just four years earlier. And for men between 13 and 29 years old, that rising proportion reflects a rapid increase in actual infections – from 551 in 2004 to 706 in the partial count for 2008.
Yet Another Study Finds Sexuality Separate From Sexual Abuse
Written by Chris Jarvis
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
(Baltimore) A preliminary report commissioned by the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops on the roots of the clergy sex abuse scandal found no evidence that gay priests are more likely than heterosexual clergy to molest children, the lead authors of the study said Tuesday.
The full report by researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice won’t be completed until the end of next year. But the authors said that their evidence to date found no data indicating that homosexuality was a predictor of abuse.
“What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse,” said Margaret Smith of John Jay College, in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “At this point, we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now.”
CA Legislature Passes Streamlined Rapid HIV Testing Bill
Written by Business Wire - 2009
Monday, 14 September 2009
SACRAMENTO , Calif.-- (Business Wire)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the operator of the largest non-government HIV testing program in California , today praised the California Legislature for its passage of Assembly Bill 221, which cleared the Assembly on final concurrence (61-0) today and moves on to the Governor`s desk. AB 221 updates and streamlines the training of counselors for rapid HIV testing by exempting persons administering finger stick rapid HIV tests from the requirement for certification as a limited phlebotomy technician (LPT).It is widely expected that Schwarzenegger will sign the bill. However, as AB 221 has been designated an urgency bill and will go into effect as soon as the Governor signs it rather than early next year, AHF is reiterating its call on the Governor to swiftly sign the bill.
The bill, authored by Assembly Member Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena) and co-sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, eliminates barriers to expanding access to HIV rapid screening by reforming outdated, unnecessary and excessive training standards for HIV counselors who administer the finger stick rapid test.
"Over the past three years, the California Legislature and the Governor have led the charge to foster widespread routine HIV screening. One after another, barriers to screening have been erased so that California can ensure an optimal environment for people to learn their HIV status and get into life-saving treatment. AB 221 removes yet another barrier," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, co-sponsor of the bill. "We encourage Governor Schwarzenegger to quickly sign this pragmatic and money-saving bill into law."
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