The Truth about CONDOMS

Visualization: Envisioning Good Health page 7

Art page 12

Theatre page 13 Film page 15

Rock page 17 Pop page 18

Opera page 19

Steve, photo by Christopher. See centerfold.

See

Sentinel USA

Voice of the New Generation 415-861-8100 Vol. 13., No. 7 August 1, 1985

Thumbs up! San Francisco mayor Dianne Feinstein stopped by to visit with Sentinel USA publisher Charles Roberts, Jr. See editorial page 8.

Gays Test Potential for Massachusetts Power Base

Stance Follows Examples of San Francisco, West Hollywood

by John Wetzl

A battle is underway in Massachusetts. The players are as diverse as small-town New England and downtown Boston. The central issues is the topic of gay foster parenting. One possible outcome:

The state of Massachusetts, most liberal of the northeastern democratic strongholds, could become known as a major stronghold for gay political power.

Swift momentum within oldline coalitions since May may be propelling gays toward their political goals in Massachusetts, and also toward a position of influence in the state,

The new gay momentum in Massachusetts comes on the heels of a dramatic show of gay self-determination in the incorporation of the largely gay city of West Hollywood, California.

The Boston politics stem directly from deep gay anger over the state's tightening of foster parential policies, which now list same-sex couples as low-priority candidates for adoption behind "traditonal families."

Gay activists now say they will attempt to turn the tables, and entrench gay and lesbian politics directly in the State House in Boston. If successful, gay activists agree, the gay leadership in Massachusetts would have the largest base of gay political power on the east

coast.

The Governor

There are a wide number of opinions on the matter, and officials from the state administration have been quoted in past press accounts as stating that current protests, focusing on Governor Michael S. Dukakis, do not represent the. mainstream of the gay community.

In the last two weeks, however, Governor Dukakis has sent out hundreds of letters in which he asserted that DSS policy does not suggest gays are "less worthy, less honorable, or less good."

Dukakis, in his letter stated, "I hope the time has not arrived in the Commonwealth when people of good will cannot reasonably disagree."

A spokeswoman from the state Department of Social Services (DSS), Mary Breslaeur, said Tuesday, "It's been the kind of issue people feel strongly about."

Continued on page 5

Evidence Admitted

on Polk Homicide

Evidence was admitted into court yesterday in the case of William Martin White. White will be arraigned in Superior Court August 14 on charges of sexual abuse, torture and double homicide in the 1984 Golden Gate and Land's End slaying of Ted Gomez and Larry Gaines.

All evidence presented by the prosecution was admitted into the trial, which will take place under Superior Court Judge Jack Berman. The defense had attempted to suppress White's statements of confession to

Continued on page 3

PRUZAN

Classified Pullout

Why We Don't Have to Wait for a

Cure for AIDS

The Phallic Fallacy

page 8

CDC Study Relates Antibody Results to Presence of HTLV

Test Still Does Not Indicate AIDS Likelihood

by John Wetzl

Government researchers found that persons studied with highly reactive HTLV antibody tests were more likely than not to be harboring the AIDS-related virus at the time of the test. Results of a study were released yesterday in a paper by the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The paper, delivered at a large Public Health Service workshop in Bethesda, Maryland, represents a first attempt to re-interpret antibody test results, and to begin to understand what the test can tell about actual presence of HTLV, the virus commonly suspected to cause AIDS,

Researchers, led by James Allen of the CDC's AIDS activities section, found positive virus tests in about 60% of cases where a person's antibody test readings were above .7, a figure which indicates the test's level of reactivity.

A source close to the health service has said there has been discussion among public health officials to attempt to apply this possible new interpretation of antibody results to screen "certain types of employees" such as health care workers.

Initial reaction to the new data has been cautious. Jeff Levy, Political Director for the advocacy group National Gay Task Force, said, "I don't think there is enough scientific data to justify broadening the use of the test for anything other than that for which it is currently licensed."

Continued on page 2

San Francisco's City Jail:

A Closer Look

by Robert Haas

City Jail No. 1 is a depressing place. The walls are drab, the incessant noise is enough to drive one crazy, and the facilities are dehumanizing. Men and women are crowded into dormitories lined wall to wall with bunk beds, separated by only a few feet. Dorms intended for 28 inmates often house more. Each contains only two toilets, one shower, and two sinks.

One side of each dorm is lined with opaque, bar-covered windows. All that can be seen from the other end is another dorm and more inmates. A row of long metal tables partially separates each room, and doubles as eating and recreational facilities. The air is stale, the ventilation almost nonexistent. Privacy is impossible.

"I've been here a month," one gay inmate said, "and last weekend I counted 67 guys in this cell. We had guys on the bunks, in between the bunks, on the floor, and under tables!"

Overcrowding is indeed one of the most serious violations mentioned in a 1982 consent decree that sharply criticized conditions at San Francisco's Jail No. 1, the short-term detention facility on the sixth floor of the Hall of Justice. Four years after a lawsuit which began in 1978 called Stone vs. Hennessey, the Court ordered the City to make over 50 improvements at the jail. Increased jail populations, inadequate funding, and excessive delays by City administration hampered efforts to make changes. Continued on page 4