PAGE 16 Q-Notos T March 1994
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National Notes
By David Prybyio
Q-Notes Staff
FBI investigates situation in
Mississippi
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The FBI
launched an investigation in Januaty into the
volatile situation in Ovett, Mississippi. Two
lesbians in Ovett have been harassed and
threatened and opponents have organized
town meetings to condemn the women and
their feminist retreat and plot ways to force
them from town. The FBI initiated the inves
tigation after Brenda and Wanda Henson of
Camp Sister Spirit received a threat through
the U.S. mail, which is a federal offense.
On Jan. 11, the Hensons received through
the mail a defaced news article about them
selves and Camp Sister Spirit with a threat
ening message h^d-written beneath the orig
inal headline. The letter was handed over to
the FBI.
The National Gay andLesbianTask Force
(NGLTF) forwarded a copy of the letter to
the U.S. Department of Justice Jan. 12, fol
lowing ameeting NGLTF attended that same
day with the Justice Department to discuss
federal involvement in the situation. Justice
officials said at the meeting that because
sexual orientation is not included in federal
civil rights laws, the agency could only launch
an investigation if there are violations of
other generally applicable federal statutes,
such as mail or phone threats.
NGLTF agreed to forward to the Justice
Department details of violent and threaten
ing incidents aimed at the Hensons so that the
agency could determine whether any of the
incidents violate federal criminal code and
could be cause for an investigation. Follow
ing the meeting, NGLTF contacted the
Hensons and received a chronological list of
incidents targeting them and Camp Sister
Spirit, as well as a copy of the mail threat.
NGLTT forwarded the information immedi
ately to the Justice Department. The Hensons
also contacted the FBI in Mississippi.
NGLTF has called on the Department of
Justice to intervene by monitoring and medi
ating the situation. In a letter to Attorney
General Janet Reno in December, NGLTF
Executive Director Peri Jude Raidecic re
quested that the Department of Justice inter
vene in the following ways: the Commxmity
Relations Service perform mediation in the
community to alleviate the potential for vi
olence; the FBI monitor the situation for any
possible hate crimes; and the Civil Rights
Division investigate any attempt to violate
the Hensons’ civil rights.
“The FBI investigation is an important
step towards insuring the safety and rights of
the Hensons,” said Robin J^e, NGLTF
PubUc Information Manager. “NGLTF con
tinues to stress the need for the Attorney
General to direct the Community Relations
Service to mediate. This situation highlights
how the absence of federal civil rights laws
that include sexual orientation prevent fed
eral agencies from protecting &e rights of
gay, lesbian and bisexual citizens.”
PCP prevention approved by
FDA
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC—
Septrabrand trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
(TMP-SMX) has received an indication from
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for
the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneu
monia (PCP) in AIDS and other immuno
compromised patients. The drug is indicated
for use in immunosuppressed patients who
are considered at risk of developing PCP.
Many patients with human immimodefi-
ciency virus (HIV) disease are being treated
with Septra to help prevent cases of PCP, an
opportunistic infection which often devel
ops as a patient’s immune system gradually
weakens. PCP is the most common and often
the first opportunistic infection to develop in
people with advanced HIV infection, and is
one of the major causes of death in patients
with AIDS. Burroughs Wellcome worked to
obtain a formal indication for this use as part
of its ongoing commitment to HIV disease.
“This indication will, in most cases, serve to
validate disease management strategies al
ready in clinical practice,” said Sandra
Nusinoff Lehrman, M.D., vice president of
infectious diseases, immunology and bio
technology at Burroughs Wellcome.
‘Wellcome’s fundamental commitment to
AIDS research is underscored by our efforts
in assembling formal documentation of the
drug’s action in preventing PCP. We felt it
was in the best interests of patients and the
medical community to pull together the in
formation to support official labeling for this
use.” The submission for this new indication
was the result of a collaborative effort be
tween Burroughs Wellcome Co. and
Hoflmann-La Roche, Inc., manufacturer of
Bactrim brand TMP-SMX.
Septra is a synthetic antibacterial combi
nation product which has been available
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since 1973 for the treatment of ear, pulmo
nary, gastrointestinal and urinary tract infec
tions. Although TMP-SMX has become best
known in the past few years as the first line
treatment for PCP, its side effects in treat
ment doses often cause patients to discontin
ue therapy. In November of 1992, Burroughs
Wellcome received FDA clearance to mar
ket Mepron brand atovaquone as a treatment
for patients with mild to moderate cases of
PCP who can’t tolerate TMP-SMX.
Gay Games to be largest ever
NEW YORK—With the final deadline
still over two months away, the organizers of
Gay Games IV & Cultural Festival announced
they have already received 7,776 registra
tions from around the world for this June’s
historical event.
Those numbers exceed Gay Games 111,
which was the largest athletic event held
anywhere in 1990. Gay Games III, held in
Vancouver, British Columbia, featured 7,250
people in 29 different sporting events at Gay
Games III. Participation numbers have dou
bled each time the Games have been held.
Gay Games I in San Francisco in 1982 in
cluded 1,3 00 athletes. Gay Games II in 1986,
also in San Francisco, h^ 3,500 athletes.
Gay Games IV & Cultural Festival, to be
held June 18-25, 1994, is an Olympic-style
sporting and cultural event open to ^1. More
than 15,000 athletes are expected to partici
pate in 31 team and individual sports in
venues located throughout the New York
City Metro area.
Early registration for athletic events closed
December 31, but applications will be ac
cepted throu^ March 31 in sports with
available space. “We’re enthusiastic about
these numbers” said Jay Hill, Executive Di
rector of Gay Games IV. “We’re on target to
be the largest athletic event ever held.” The
1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona had
10,568 athletes.
“Having participated [in the triathlon] at
Gay Games III, I am especially excited to
have exceeded the numbers from 1990,” Hill
added. “It was in incredibly exhilarating
experience to be among 7,250 athletes in
Vancouver, and I’m sure New York will be
even more sensational.”
Gay Games IV will also feature a Cultural
Festival, the largest assemblage of lesbian
and gay culture ever. The Festival will in
clude world-renowned artists and lesser-
known performers in a variety of artistic
disciplines, including music, theater, film,
sculpture, history, architecture, literature,
performance art and photography. The dead
line for project proposals is March 1.
For more information on registering for
Gay Games IV & Cultural Festival call (212)
633-9494.
Openly gay man beats
incumbent in Florida
fort LAUDERDALE—Openly gay
challenger Ken Wolf beat incumbent City
Commissioner Cary Keno with 40 percent of
the vote in the February 8 election for Fort
Lauderdale City Commission. The first place
finish leaves Wolf in good position to win the
March 8 runoff and complete the upset vic-
Continued on page 23
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