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Rep. Barbara Lee Introduces Anti-HIV Criminalization Bill

Excellent news. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has introduced landmark legislation to call attention to the nation's patchwork of laws that criminalize the exposure and transmission of HIV.

The REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act calls for the explicit review of all federal and state laws and regulations regarding "the criminal prosecution of individuals for HIV-related offenses. It then creates incentives for governments to reform existing policies that use the law to target HIV-positive people," notes Housing Works.

From the ACLU:

There are presently 34 states that have criminal laws that punish people for exposing another person to HIV, even in the absence of actual HIV transmission or a meaningful risk that transmission could occur. Many of these laws were enacted early in the epidemic, before people understood how HIV was and was not transmitted, but the laws have not been changed. And many people are serving long sentences for conduct that poses no meaningful risk of transmission of HIV, such as spitting or biting.

In March 2010, the ACLU of Michigan filed an amicus brief in the jaw-dropping case of a man living with HIV who faced bio-terrorism charges after he allegedly bit another man during an altercation (despite the fact that HIV is not spread through saliva). Fortunately, a judge eventually threw out the bio-terrorism charges against the man. Additional cases include that of a Texas man living with HIV who received a 35-year sentence for spitting at a police officer because under Texas law his saliva was considered a "deadly weapon."

The Michigan bio-terrorism case was prosecuted against a Black gay man. Blacks and gays of color are disproportionately singled out for prosecution, according to many experts.

A fact sheet created by the Center for HIV Law and Policy, AIDS United, Lambda Legal and the ACLU AIDS Project summarizes the issues with HIV criminalization and the measures the new bill takes to address them. The co-sponsors include Donna Christensen (D-VI), Steve Cohen (D-TN); Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Jesse Jackson Jr. D-IL); Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC); Mike Quigley (D-IL); Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).

The Obama Administration released the nation's first National HIV/AIDS Strategy in July 2010. The NHAS emphasized that HIV-related stigma "remains extremely high" and called for a review of all criminalization. Last fall the Black AIDS Institute analyzed NHAS' potential impact on Black America. Read parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of our report.

Maxine Waters to Face House Ethics Trial and 3 Charges

Rep. Maxine Waters will face a House trial this fall on three charges of ethical wrongdoing, reports the AP. The 10-term lawmaker is accused of violating rules in requesting federal help for OneUnited Bank, where her husband owned stock and served on the board. Waters denied the charges today.

"Three months after Waters called Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to set up the meeting during the financial crisis, OneUnited Bank received $12 million in bailout funds," reports the Los Angeles Times. "Paulson was 'unequivocal' that Waters did not mention her husband's ties to the bank."

Waters becomes the second high profile member of the Congressional Black Caucus to opt for a public trial in the fall on ethics charges. New York Democrat Charles Rangel will face also face trial, adding to the Democrats woes as they head into the November midterm elections.

On a personal note, Waters has always been one of my sheroes. Maxine Waters has a 90% Human Rights Campaign Rating, strong on LGBT issues and has been one of the Hill's strongest champions for HIV funding.  Hopefully she will be exonerated and fully acquitted. A shame if she is forced to end an incredible career on this note.

NEWS: DeFarra Gaymon, Maxine Waters, MJ, Louis Smith, Ronaldo

Terrence Howard joins Law & Order: Los Angeles.

New Jersey LGBT groups request independent investigation into fatal shooting of DeFarra Gaymon. Activists also request "cease and desist" of sting operations "targeting gay men in Essex County."

Michael Jackson's first posthumous album of "sensational" unreleased material from Bad to be released in November.

Gymnastics bronze medalist  Louis Smith tours London's new Olympic stadium.

Ricky Martin memoir due in November.

The Boy Scouts of America has seen its "membership plunge by 42 percent since its peak year of 1973." Are the declining numbers related to their discriminatory policies?

All work and no play for Cristiano Ronaldo in LA?

BlackBerry to release BlackPad to compete with iPad? "The new device will have roughly the same dimensions as iPad, which has a 9.7in diagonal screen. It will also include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technology. It will be priced in line with the iPad, which starts at $499."

  Rep. Maxine Waters becomes the second high profile Democrat this week to face charges of misusing her office and opt for a public trial. A House Ethics subcommittee will charge the California  Democrat with improper communications regarding a bank "her husband owned stock in while it was applying for a federal bailout in 2008. This after the start of a similar proceeding on Thursday for Rep. Rangel of New York."

And tragedy this weekend: Floods kills at least 800 people and destroy thousands of homes in Pakistan.

News: Martellus Bennett, Gregory Prescott, Cuba, HIV, Essence, Kaoz

BlackBerry to release touch-screen smartphone next week?

No homo. Dallas Cowboy Martellus Bennett—fined last year for a homophobic, derogatory YouTube—latest pro athlete to show his dong.

Openly gay rapper/spoken word artist Kevin "Kaoz" Moore talks coming out professionally: "With spoken word and hip-hop, I never put my sexuality into the equation, but then I realized that the LGBT community was the ones that supported me. I was no longer going to hide." 

What happened at Anna Wintour's soirée for Obama? 

Inception star Tom Hardy: "Of course I've had sex with men."

Essence editor-in-chief hires a white fashion editor and responds to the controversy.

Introducing the photography of Gregory Prescott.

The Wall Las Memorias—an inspirational Latino AIDS mural—is vandalized in Los Angeles.

 Atripla co-pay to cover more people.

HIV meds to cost Global Fund nearly $2 billion yearly.

House Ethics Committee details 13 charges against Rep. Charles Rangel and "begins the process for a rare public trial."

Kelly Rowland launches iPhone 4 in Australia.

AP: NY Gov. Paterson will not face criminal charges for his involvement in a former aide's domestic violence case.

Will Senate Majority Leader Reid schedule a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" vote before the November elections?

The Root launches its series exploring Cuba's color complex. Cuban-American lesbian journalist Achy Obejas writes "Yes, Virginia, There is Racism in Cuba" and notes: "The government's good intentions—combined with a willful silence on internal conflicts, national pride, a desire to protect a revolution that seemed constantly under siege, and the goodwill, especially from Africans and African Americans, that was inspired by the idea of eliminating racism in Cuba—[makes] it almost impossible to have an open and honest discussion."

WATCH: Obama Signs Historic Health Care Reform Legislation

In a ceremony in the East Room of the White, President Barack Obama signs the Affordable Health Care for America Act, "enacting a sweeping overhaul of the nation's $2.5 trillion health system" and "the most sweeping social legislation enacted in decade."

Says the President: "The bill I am signing will set in motion reforms that generations of Americans have fought for and marched for and hungered to see."

The Washington Post adds: "No Republicans voted for the bill in the House or Senate, and Democrats who opposed it were not invited, White House officials said. They said those Democrats would not have wanted to attend anyway."

Via Taylor Marsh, watch the ceremony AFTER THE JUMP ...

Rangel Resigns as Chairman of Ways and Means Committee

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) is stepping down temporarily from his post as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which exerts "enormous legislative influence in the House" as it controls legislation involving taxes and revenues.

The House Ethics Committee found Rangel "broke congressional rules by not properly disclosing trips to the Caribbean that were paid for by companies." Republicans are pressing for a vote calling for his ouster and several Democrats had already made clear that they would no longer support Mr. Rangel.  The ethics panel is still investigating "more serious accusations" Rangel’s fund-raising and federal taxes, the New York Times reports.

The damaging accusations and events come at the same time House and Senate Democrats hope to fast-track action on health care legislation.

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