I listen to the Brian Lehrer Show almost every morning on WNYC (the New York City affiliate of National Public Radio) and I'm a huge fan of Brian's, so I was excited to get a call from one of his producers inviting me to the Greene Space on June 23 to participate in a panel discussion with a live audience on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the future of the LGBT movement (From Stonewall to Gay Marriage, 6/23/09).
Because there were so many people on the panel, I only managed to get in three sentences during the whole segment. But Brian had me back on the show for a solo appearance on June 26 to talk about transgender rights (Follow-Up Friday: Transgender Rights and Cell Phones and Planes, 6/26/09). In the course of the 20-minute interview, I took the opportunity to talk about the need for enactment of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) as well as the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) -- both of which are pending in the exceptionally dysfunctional New York State Senate. In addition to pending state legislation, Brian and I discussed local issues, including the failure of the openly lesbian New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to support a progressive and LGBT-inclusive legislative agenda in the City Council.
Chris Quinn represents the 3rd Council district, which includes Greenwich Village and Chelsea. Quinn is facing a strong challenge by another 'out' lesbian, community activist Yetta Kurland. More about that race later.
Almost one year ago, the US Senate voted against the HIV ban. On July 20, 2008, President Bush "signed the re-authorization of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which included a provision eliminating the HIV ban from the Immigration and Nationality Act." (Immigration Equality, 1/14/2009).
Today, the Department of Human and Health Services (HHS) finally published its proposed regulations to lift the HIV travel and immigration ban in the Federal Register for a 45-day period of public comment.
It has certainly taken a long time and a lot of lobbying effort to reach this monumental point: when the HHS finally published its proposed regulations, before issuing the final regulations -- the day when all HIV-infected individuals will not be discriminated against from entering the country. Please respond to the HHS with your supportive comments.
We continue to thank and applaud Immigration Equality for their dedicated commitment to end this discrimination against all HIV-infected individuals. Kudos!!!
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