Rod 2.0:Beta

AIDS Project Los Angeles to Sue Schwazenegger Over HIV Cuts

Yet another lawsuit is announced against California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over his "huge and potentially disastrous cuts" in the state's HIV/AIDS service programs. AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) announced it will sue the governor on the grounds that his line-item vetoes of the state's budget revision are unconstitutional.

The line item vetoes removed more than $80 million from California’s HIV/AIDS portfolio. APLA's programs—including those that provide in-home care to seriously ill, HIV-positive Los Angeles County residents—stand to lose more than $1.8 million as a result of Schwarzenegger’s cuts. The agency is the hardest hit statewide.

Last week, California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg announced he would file suit against Schwarzenegger on similar grounds. Meanwhile, in Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn is using part of his discretionary fund to maintain funding for HIV/AIDS services at almost 100 percent.

(via Queerty)

Illinois HIV/AIDS Services Survive Gov. Pat Quinn's Budget Cuts

At the same time Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is being severely criticized for cutting HIV/AIDS services—one state senator has announced he will sue the governor this week—there is much better news to report from Illinois. Gov. Pat Quinn has elected to use part of his discretionary fund to maintain funding for HIV/AIDS services at almost 100 percent, Windy City Times reports..

"The FY10 budget, which was passed two weeks into the beginning of the fiscal year on July 15, included $3.4 billion in unallocated funds to be spent at Gov. Pat Quinn’s discretion. Though the budget itself only funded HIV/AIDS agencies and other social services at 50 percent of previous levels, service providers had been waiting anxiously to find out where Quinn would put the discretionary funds. Under the plan released July 31, Quinn allocated $40 million to the Illinois Department of Public Health, $17 million of which is to be spent on HIV/AIDS programming. In combination with the money already allocated in the state budget, this restores HIV/AIDS funding to 97.4 percent of previous levels."

In March, Rod 2.0 reported Gov. Quinn's office proposed dramatic cuts in budgets and services for the state's rapidly increasing HIV/AIDS population. The proposed service cuts came at the same time Chicago black gay activists and HIV/AIDS advocates complained about discrimination and lack of access to the city's leading HIV/AIDS facility.

Thanks CHITOWN KEV!

HIV/AIDS Service Survive Quinn's Cuts [WCT]

Did You Read? ...
Report: Illinois Reducing HIV/AIDS Budget [R20]
News: Schwarzenegger, Anthony Woods, Latifah [R20]
ACT UP to Protest Cuts in California HIV Funding [R20]

News: Schwarzenegger, Anthony Woods, Queen Latifah, Ref 71

· Federal court orders California to reduce its prison population by 43,000 inmates within two years.

· California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg announces he will file a lawsuit against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The suit contends the governor "violated his constitutional authority" in making line item vetoes when he ordered "huge and potentially disastrous cuts in vital California health and welfare programs, including those that affect people living with HIV/AIDS, seniors, the disabled, and the very young."

· Washington: Rejection rate rising signatures for Referendum 71, which would rescind the state's recently passed "everything but marriage" domestic-partnership law.

· For the seventh year in a row, the City of Chicago issues a mayoral proclamation and holds a ceremony "recognizing the service of GLBT veterans. It is the only such municipal recognition ceremony in the country."

· Queen Latifah now a regular at New York City lesbian party "Eden."

· Congressional candidate Anthony Woods as a positive role for black gay youth: "Woods' ability to connect with a youth culture increasingly accepting of gays suggests a number of possibilities for black gay community. Should Woods win the seat and go on to enjoy a lengthy and successful career in politics, it will be very hard for history to downplay his contributions to the political world the way it was done with civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Many—including a number of black gays—know little about Rustin's work to combat segregation, apartheid, and homophobia. In the digital age where everything is photographed, taped, and blogged, Woods' potential ascension from fallen victim of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' to the first black openly gay person elected to Congress will be a story told repeatedly to young gays of color."

Whitman Not Expecting "A Liberal Crowd", Grilled Over Prop 8 Vote

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay, was a major supporter of Proposition 8, the voter imposed ban that rescinded same-sex marriage. The San Francisco Chronicle's Leah Garchik writes the candidate recently invited a number of "high-profile high-tech Silicon Valley women" to "get acquainted" and was surprised to be ambushed by "such a liberal crowd."

Whitman, who had described herself earlier as objective, admitted she had voted for Prop. 8. She said that decision had to do with both her religion—Presbyterian—and her emotions. "What happened to the objective CEO lady?" asked her challenger. "Now you're emotional. ... You're all objective about everything; this issue you talk about emotions."

To the questioner, Whitman's blaming her vote on her religion didn't make sense. "I'm also Catholic; that's not going to fly for me. ... 'I have children who are unprotected. It's a matter of legal rights. It's a legal issue. I pay taxes just like you. Why do you get more rights than I do?' "

The discussion was civil, said the questioner, who admitted, "I was testy. She was not. ... When Whitman said, 'You know, I just wish we could have one term for everything: civil unions,' I said, 'Bingo, sold, I'll take it.' "

Would Whitman propose this during the campaign asked her challenger. That question wasn't answered. "She wouldn't say anything. ... She wouldn't say yes. ... She would not say, 'OK, I will do that.' "

Whitman—branding herself as a centrist, technology-friendly successor to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger—initially supported anti-gay right-wing technocrat Mitt Romney and later John McCain in the 2008 election. "She wasn't expecting such a liberal crowd," said her challenger. "She said she didn't want it to be about social issues. I think she hates dealing with these issues."

Awww poor baby. Does Meg only want to talk about micro-lending and TIFF increment financing? Welcome to politics. Oh and good luck convincing millions of Californians to trade in their "marriage" for a "civil union."

(via Queerty)

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Prop 8 Supporter Whitman to Run for California Governor [R20]
Cali. Gov. Candidate Whitman Modifies Positions on Gays [R20]

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LA Sheriff to Expand Condom Distribution to Gay Prisoners

At the same time many states and municipalities are reluctant to distribute condoms in prisons, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca may expand an eight-year-old program at Men's Central Jail that distributes condoms in a unit for gay men, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"The nonprofit Center for Health Justice has been visiting the jail almost weekly since 2001, when Baca approved a small but groundbreaking program that allowed the health group to pass out prophylactics to inmates in a segregated unit for gay men. [The Center] has distributed more than 43,655 condoms to inmates since the project began, but said that is not nearly enough. ... The sheriff is pondering whether to expand it by doubling the number of condoms distributed to the 300 inmates within the segregated unit. It would be one of the most aggressive measures in the nation's jails and prisons to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, experts say."

LA County Sheriff officials say about 65 new HIV cases are detected each month.  On average "there are about 1,400 people in L.A. County jails with HIV each year" and the health cost is about $2 million per year.

Currently, only several jails in the United States—including some in San Francisco, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.—offer condoms to inmates. Condoms are also available to prisoners in Vermont. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) has sponsored legislation that would require condoms in federal prisons.

Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa Will Not Run for Governor

Very unexpected political developments in California. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reveals he will not run for governor to replace the outgoing and term-limited Arnold Schwarzenegger.  

The mayor tells CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he wants to devote his full attention to Los Angeles, which is facing its worst fiscal crisis in decades. Villaraigosa says: "Cities are on the frontlines of the challenges facing us in terms of the economic crisis. Here in the City of LA, 12.5% unemployment rate, 21,000 people have lost their home over the last 2 years, we're facing a unprecedented and historical budget deficit of $530 million dollars. I feel compelled to complete what I started out to do."

The Los Angeles Times notes that Villaraigosa’s decision adds "a dash of clarity to the race for the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nomination" which appears will be between state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Brown has yet to say if he will run. Newsom aggressively launched his campaign on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook in April.

ACT UP to Protest Budget Cuts in California HIV/AIDS Funding

ACT/UP, Aids Project Los Angeles, the AIDS Housing Alliance and other advocates plan rallies in Los Angeles (June 5) and Sacramento (June 10) to protest Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's massive, proposed budget cuts from state HIV/AIDS funding. 

California faces a $24 billion deficit and Schwarzenegger's health care budget cuts target "everything from housing and medical treatment to access to drugs and prevention services", reports the Bay Area Reporter. "The governor's latest proposal cut[s] $67.8 million from state HIV programs and ask[s] for an additional $12.3 million cut in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. ADAP's total budget is $362 million, with the general fund contribution from the state accounting for $96 million. But federal allocations for ADAP are based on how much California budgets toward the program, so any reduction in state dollars would mean less money for ADAP from national revenue sources"

Also: On Friday June 5, HIV/AIDS advocates and patients will be at the state Capitol in the Legislature's Budget Conference Committee as the lawmakers vote on whether to accept Schwarzenegger's proposed health care cuts.

Prop 8 Supporter and Billionaire Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman to Run for California Governor

Sorry for not reporting this bit of hilarity last night. Meg Whitman, the former chief executive officer of eBay, officially declared her intent to run for governor of California. Whitman is running as a Republican—but did not register as a Republican until 2007.

The move by the billionaire businesswoman—establishment of an "exploratory" committee – likely sets up what's expected to be an expensive 17-month auction between herself and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the 2010 Republican primary.

Whitman is pitching herself as a financial expert in tough economic times.

"California faces challenges unlike any other time in its history – a weak and faltering economy, massive job losses, and an exploding state budget deficit," Whitman said in a statement. "California is better than this, and I refuse to stand by and watch it fail."

The 52-year old is a political rookie who has never held elective office. If elected, she would be the first female governor in California history.

Whitman is likely to be re-packaged as a centrist, technology- and business-friendly replacement for Gov. Schwarzenegger but that would be misleading. In the primaries, Whitman first supported anti-gay right-wing technocrat Mitt Romney and then John McCain. And while most Silicon Valley Republicans are more concerned with lower taxes than right-wing screeds such as gay marriage, Whitman was a major supporter of Proposition 8, California's recently passed ban on same-sex marriages. The former eBay executive was only one of 3 likely Republican gubernatorial candidates to support the ban.

Tech industry blog Vallleywag reports gay and lesbian eBay employees, "an influential group within the company, are especially furious at her betrayal." Henry Gomez, the former eBay communications honcho who's serving as an advisor to Whitman, tells Gawker that Whitman's stand "was 'a personal issue.' Many gay eBay employees agree. They see Whitman's stance as a deeply personal betrayal. As the CEO of a company in a liberal industry in a liberal region, Whitman never gave a hint that she didn't value gay and lesbian employees' relationships."

Whitman's business and technology credentials are also being mocked. "The new fees eBay pushed on sellers have tarnished her image as a friend of small businesses, " Vallleywag reports. "And her failure to secure key domain names, like meg2010.com, combined with her failed attempt to reclaim them from the man who registered them, hardly makes her seem tech-savvy."

Whitman Launches 2010 Bid for Governor [Sac Bee]
Heavily-Vaselined Ex eBay CEO Running for Gov [VW]

News: Obama, Prop 8, LL Cool J, Focus on the Family, "Don't Ask"

· In first meeting since the presidential election, President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain vow to work together on the financial crisis, energy, national security and "change the bad habits of Washington."

· More than 100 retired generals and admirals call for repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays so they can serve openly. "As is the case with Great Britain, Israel, and other nations that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are professionals who are able to work together effectively despite differences in race, gender, religion, and sexuality," the officers wrote.

· Lip lickin' LL Cool J to co-host the "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live."

· After a wave of anti-gay riots and arrests across Senegal, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission increases aid to the West African nation's LGBT community.

· Just in case the Jamaican gays and lesbians aren't deterred by the lynch mobs and routine attacks: The upper house of the Jamaican parliament debates legislation to define marriage as between a man and a woman only. Senator Basil Waite proposes to legislate the nation's "preferred family options" to "prevent homosexual unions."

· California Attorney General Jerry Brown urges the California Supreme Court to "review lawsuits that seek to overturn Proposition 8" but "it's in the 'public interest' to let the gay-marriage ban take effect while lawsuits are reviewed."

· Via Wilshire & Washington: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tells ABC News he believes marriage is between a man and a woman but "I don't want to force my will on anyone." The governor predicts the California Supreme Court will reject Proposition 8 .

· Happy holidays from right-wing, anti-gay Focus on the Family! After "pumping more than half a million dollars into the successful effort to pass a gay-marriage ban in California", the Colorado Springs-based ministry and media empire will lay off 20 percent of its workforce, some 202 jobs. "Critics are holding up the layoffs, which come just two months after the organization’s last round of dismissals, as a sad commentary on the true priorities of ministry. 'If I were their membership I would be appalled,'  said Mark Lewis, a longtime Colorado Springs activist who helped organize a Proposition 8 protest in Colorado Springs on Saturday. 'That [Focus on the Family] would spend any money on anything that’s obviously going to get blocked in the courts is just sad. [Prop. 8] is guaranteed to lose, in the long run it doesn’t have a chance—it’s just a waste of money. "

News: Schwarzenegger Veto, HIV, Uganda, Pharrell Williams Stalker

· California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoes a bill that would have made Harvey Milk’s birthday a statewide “day of significance,” insisting it should “continue to be recognized at the local level.” Anti-gay and conservative groups supported Schwarzenegger’s veto.

Milk, the nation's first openly gay man to hold prominent political office, was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. One year later, Milk and Mayor George Moscone were shot to death by fellow supervisor Dan White.

· Schwarzenegger did, however, sign a bill into law (AB 1894) that requires health care plans operating in the state to pay for routine HIV testing. According to the California Office of AIDS, about 40,000 Californians are HIV-positive but are not aware of their status.

· Study: The AIDS virus "has been circulating among people for about 100 years, decades longer than scientists had thought. Genetic analysis pushes the estimated origin of HIV back to between 1884 and 1924, with a more focused estimate at 1908. Previously, scientists had estimated the origin at around 1930. AIDS wasn’t recognized formally until 1981 when it got the attention of public health officials in the United States."

· An employee of Sean Combs' Sean John brand is disciplined for cyber stalking rapper, fashionista, designer and super producer Pharrell Williams: "The unnamed wannabe music star reportedly stole Pharrell’s contact details from their employer and started sending emails to the star asking to work with him. Eventually the NERD frontman traced the begging emails back to P Diddy’s office.The staff member was disciplined by the company, although Diddy was apparently not aware of the issue."

· Financial bailout? "Congressional leaders from both parties said they were hopeful that a new version of the rescue plan could be cleared late this week after its stunning defeat that sparked a historic sell-off on Monday" Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are expected to return to Washington and vote for the bill.

· Sarah Palin's approval ratings plummet. Before McCain chose the Alaska governor as a running mate, Palin "had an 82 percent approval rating in her state. Since then, however, [her] approval rating has dropped to 68 percent. Support stayed steady with Republicans, but dropped 24 points with Democrats and 18 points with independents."

· Complaints of racial profiling rapidly multiply in Seattle. The president of the Seattle-King County branch of the NAACP held a news conference to cite numerous "instances of unequal and disrespectful law enforcement targeting black youth. One example: [Marcus] Whitehurst, who is black, was pushed up against the patrol car, told he was nothing but 'garbage' and advised that he was 'not welcome in this neighborhood.' His white friends were allowed to stand there, untouched."

· Anti-gay bishops, Uganda welcomes you! Christian bishops from around the world meet in Uganda as part of a movement "that threatens to split the 70-million-strong Anglican Church. ... The conservative anti-gay clergy formed the Global Anglican Future Conference Movement (GAFCON) in 2008 after the mainstream Anglican church refused to condemn the 2003 consecration of [openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson.]. 'We are telling people in homosexual relations that we appreciate you as human beings, but it's not a rightful relation,' GAFCON chairperson and Nigerian Archbishop Nicholas Okoh told Deutsche Presse. 'The right relationship is that between a man and a woman.' "