National News Edited by John A. Fall

Weiss Bill Would Curtail Medicare Wait

WASHINGTON-U.S. Congressman Ted Weiss (D-N.Y.) recently introduced a bill to the House of Representatives that would reduce by two years the time a person with AIDS must wait to receive Medicare benefits. The legislation would also allow Medicare to cover the costs of some experimental treatments for AIDS.

Currently, AIDS patients must wait two and a half years to receive Medicare, a form of health insurance provided by the Social Security Administration. If passed, Weiss's bill will reduce the wait to only six months, reports Lisa M. Keen of the Washington Blade.

curring less frequently than originally predicted.

"We are coming in lower than our best 'guestimate' among the health people, and the actual numbers are, indeed, small," an anonymous source told the Associated Press. No actual case of AIDS has been reported as a result of the testing.

The sources also said that the Pentagon has barred at least 66 civilians from serving in the military because they tested positive. Mandatory testing of all military personnel began on October 15. A policy directive signed by Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger allows active-duty personnel who test positive to stay in the military, but recruits who test positive are denied entry.

California to

The legislation would also give the Begin Confronting

Secretary of Health and Human Services power to allow reimbursment for some experimental treatments for AIDS. "Because there is no known treatment for AIDS, much of the medical care involves therapies that are experimental," Weiss observed. Regulations presently forbid repayment for any drug or treatment not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Recruits With Positive HTLV-III Tests Less Than Predicted

WASHINGTON-Despite recent reports. indicating over twice as many military recruits as civilians were testing positive for HTLV-III antibodies, "informed sources" say that the presence of the antibody is oc-

AIDS in Substance Abuse Communities

SAN FRANCISCO-State Assemblyman Art Agnos announced November 22 that the California Department of Health Services will allocate $400,000 to San Francisco for the development of an AIDS program designed to reach substance abusers.

"The pilot program, which includes residential treatment facilities and an outreach program to enlist individuals in outpatient programs, are the the first of their kind in the nation," Agnos said, adding, "there is no city in California or the nation better equipped to get these programs up and running so that we can evaluate the need for expanded, statewide programs in our next budget."

The programs will provide residences for individuals within "high-risk" groups who want to end their substance dependency. They will also help individuals especially susceptible to contracting AIDS, as determined by a survey conducted by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The survey found homeless youth involved in prostitution and substance abuse, and gay men who use recreational drugs, to have an increased danger of contracting AIDS.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health, which was chosen to run the programs, will announce requests for proposals and subcontract for the programs.

AT&T Donates To Crisisline

NEW YORK-The AT&T Foundation, the philanthropic arm of American Telephone and Telegraph, has awarded a $10,000 grant to the National Gay Task Force's Fund for Human Dignity, in support of the fund's Crisisline project. The money is the first donation made to the fund by a major corporation.

"We value both the vital role the fund plays in fostering public understanding of gay people, and the important service (the) Crisisline provides in connection with the AIDS epidemic," said Charles E. Evans, vice president of Health and Social Action Programs for the AT&T Foundation.

Founded in 1982, the Crisisline is a tollfree phone line that provides information and referrals to concerned gay men and lesbians nationwide.

Foster Care

Policy Protested

BOSTON-A five-hour protest of the State Department of Social Services (DSS)

anti-gay foster care policy and the lack of public hearings on the policy took place outside Governor Michael Dukakis's office November 26.

The demonstration, staged by the Gay and Lesbian Defense Committee, included a lifesize effigy of Dukakis, since the governor refused to attend the protest. The effigy was surrounded by dolls symbolizing the children affected by the foster care policy, reports Kim Weshiemer of Gay Community News.

Numerous people spoke against the policy, including Carol Brill, a representative of the National Association of Social Workers. "We have the responsibility to make the best placement for a child and your policy doesn't allow us to do this," Brill said. She asked Dukakis to abandon the foster care regulations and "to take the lead in educating the public about some of the myths that underlie their fears that non-traditional families will of necessity be detrimental to the well-being of foster children."

State Senator Jack Backman supported the efforts of the protestors. "You will be heard. The policy you wish to be overturned will be overturned," he told the demonstrators.

Survey Says

Lesbians Face Health Care Discrimination

WASHINGTON-Many lesbians receive poor health service as a result of disrimination, according to the preliminary results of a national survey.

Summarizing trends in the National Lesbian Health Care Survey, project director Caitlin Ryan said that numerous respondents reported being dsicriminated against when they revealed their sexual orientation to their health providers. The discrimination cited ranged from lack of sensitivity to attempted seduction and rape, reports Rick Harding of Continued on page 9.

GERTRUDE'S follies presents: A PAGE FROM ALICE'S LOVE DIARY. 1985 T. HACHIMAN

Dear Diary, I was late Aheavy setperson answered the door. She spoke. Her voice seemed to emanate from the brooch she was wearing

27

YOU'RE LATE!

BONG

THE BELL!

THE WHAT?

Then the bell rang. It was the bell that signals the presence of superior intelligence.

DO YOU CRACKLE KNOW ME? I AM GERTRUDE, I CRACKLE AM GERTRUDE. I DO NOT ALLOW TARDINESS.

460

There seemed to be a problem with transmission. Static crackled interrupting her sentences forcing her to frequently repeat herself.

THE BELL! I HEARD

THE BELL!

WHAT IS CRACKLE THE BELL?

Gertrude did not hear the bell ring.

HELLO IN THERE! WHAT DO YOU WANT? WHAT IS YOUR MISSION? WHY ARE YOU ON THIS PLANET?

TAP TAP

I tapped on the brooch hoping to clear up some of the static. I thought she might be a robot from Mars.

YOU ARE A GENIUS!

I AM? 1 MEAN, YES CRACKLE AM!

I told her I only heard the

bell ring when a genius was

I AM HERE TO WRITE, I WANT MY WRITING TO BE READ CRACKLE READ. I WANT TO BE FAMOUS.

I'M HERE TO HELP YOU!

I was very excited by the possibility that I was meeting a being of superior intelligence..

IT WAS VERY LOUD SO YOU MUST BE A GREAT GENIUS, WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? YOU CAN TRUST ME. I AM YOUR FRIEND, TRUST ME.

THIS GIRL

IS WEIRD BUT I THINK

I LIKE HER.

in the room so she was a genius. I think we are going to be friends

NEW YORK NATIVE/DECEMBER 23-29, 1985 7-