NGRA polices NIH practices

new

San Francisco The U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia heard oral arguments on Dec. 16, in a suit against the government for delaying research, testing, and approval of medicines for AIDS and related conditions. National Gay Rights Advocates, the Californiabased public interest law firm, filed a class action suit against the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health on June 24, alleging the delays are caused by unethical and illegal conflicts of interest in the agencies.

During

at

the course of the litigation NGRA discovered that Dr. Samuel Broder, NIH, urged BurroughsWelcome (manufacturer of AZT) to give money to support work. and on same day the check was received FDA granted it orphan drug sta-

his

Burroughs-Wellcome complied,

the

the

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to

an

Jean O'Leary, NGRA Executive Director, said, "The million and a half people with HIV who we represent should not be deprived of new medications because of

promising improper

action by government officials. Decisions about which drugs to test and approve for distribution must be made in a fair and expeditious manner."

The government has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, contending that NGRA failed to seek corrective action in the FDA and NIH. But Leonard Graff, NGRA Legal Director said, "That's a bit like asking the fox to police the chicken coop. Sam Broder clearly violated Executive Order 11222 and we are entitled to judicial review." Executive Order 11222 forbids federal employees from doing anything that would result in, create the appearance of, using public office for private gain. It forbids giving preferential treatment any organization or person, or causing the public to question the integrity of the government.

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also the critical first step leading

an exclusive marketing right average consumer

$10,000/year.

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Midwest pursues March objectives

The Midwest Region of the March on Washington is now called Gay/Lesbian March Activists (GLMA). The goals of this organization are to focus on and implement the March demands in the Midwest, and to facilitate and organize the necessary actions to elect delegates to the proposed Lesbian/Gay Congress for the Midwest Region via the local committiees.

The GLMA is asking local March committees to join them in following up the work started at the March for these groups to set their Own agenda to address local issues.

and

One

of the first actions taken by the GLMA is a call for a national boycott of TIME, Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report for their lack of coverage on the March. The committee is asking that all lesbian and gay subscribers cancel their subscriptions to these publications with a letter telling the editors why the cancellation was necessary.

March organizers or individuals interested in this agenda can write to GLMA, PO Box 19530, Cincinnati, OH 45219 or call (513) 281-7496.

Lesbian soap available on video

TWO IN TWENTY, a five-episode video soap opera will have its world premiere at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA on Jan. 22 and The series, which is the first opera produced on video by and the lesbian community, follows the complex lives of two lesbian households.

The characters,

23. soap for

which include a lesbian-feminist therapist, a spacey tofu-eating tarot card reader, and a fledgling "baby dyke", can be found in most lesbian communities.

Humor,

which is most evident in the commercials which advertise fictitious products and services, is balanced with plots which deals with the problems which lesbians face.

everyday

to

to

TWO IN TWENTY is available groups or individuals who wish organize screenings in their communities. The entire show is closed captioned for the hearing impaired. For more information, contact TWO IN TWENTY, PO Box 105, Somerville, MA 02144, (617) 625-7882.

NELLI CONRAD

Attorney at Law

75 Public Square Cleveland, OH 44113

•

(216) 867-4076

6

Well,

S33 In the

Kitchen with

Auntie Ray

wasn't that a festive

season. But now on to the New Year and all those nice resolutions. I made two this year. First to be nice to all the "little" people and second to get more veggies in my diet. To this second I'm increasing my goal sumption of that wonderful cake from Scoops and Ladles.

CARROT CAKE

1 1/2 C oil (vegetable) 2 C sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 C flour

3 C grated carrots

Preheat oven to 350F.

concarrot

Mix the oil and sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well. Sift together the dry ingredients and add, mixing well. stir in the carrots and pour into three 9"pans that have been greased and floured. Bake 30 min., or till knife comes out clean.

CARROT CAKE ICING

8 ounces of cream cheese

1/2 stick of butter

1 lb. powder sugar

1/2 C finely chopped walnuts

a

Cream together the room temp. butter and cream cheese.

Slowly add the powdered sugar, mixing well. Add walnut. Frost the fully cooled layers of cake.

the

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