MAY 6, 1994 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 21
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Treating HIV/AIDS patients with anabolic steroids
Severe weight loss is a serious and common problem in people with AIDS. Its relationship to mortality has long been noted. Four years ago Dr. Donald Kotler described a nutritional assessment of 32 deceased AIDS patients; the investigators found that the persons' final weight was about onethird their ideal weight. Total body cell mass was 54 percent of normal. The results were independent of the immediate cause of wasting, which could be any number of opportunistic infections; they suggested that preserving body mass could prolong survival.
The medical profession is hesitant to prescribe steroids because of the possibility of abuse. However, do not let your doctor tell you what you are going to do. Empower yourself to make decisions about your treatment yourself.
ACT UP has the protocol and results necessary for your doctor to prescribe steroids to you. We have several people on steroids here at ACT UP and the results are nothing short of amazing.
It is time to take the bull by the horns in regards to our treatment. Obviously the drugs that the medical community wants us to take are highly toxic poisons. ACT UP is focusing on alternative treatments this year. We have got to treat ourselves because the government sponsored drugs are killing us. For more information call the ACT UP work space at 621-2233.
AIDS Cure Project
On May 10 the AIDS Cure Project will be introduced by representative Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. On that same day the AIDS Cure Project Working Group will be holding a press conference at 11:30 am at the
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Federal Building Plaza on E. 9th St. Here is a brief look at the Project:
The AIDS Cure Project will be separate from the NIH and report to (but not be directed by) the president through the "Spe-
ACT UP
THE AIDS COALITION TO UNLEASH POWER
CLEVELAND
cial Assistant on AIDS," and will have the following mandates:
1. To find a cure for AIDS, with cure being defined to include "any and all approaches which will ensure a well-functioning immune system and a normal life span with a reasonable quality of life." To that end, it will have two missions:
a. to pursue any and all basic science investigations, based on diverse theories and schools of thought, which elucidate the pathogenesis of AIDS;
b. to identify all promising cures and to oversee their timely and adequate testing. 2. In order to work in the most efficient manner possible, free of private interests and red tape:
a. All primary research staff will work at one central location, interacting with researchers around the world;
b. the NIH's existing AIDS research programs will be maintained, and any NIH research on AIDS basic science will be performed cooperatively with the Project;
c. all staff shall be employed only by the
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Project and may not have conflicts of interest with private organizations such as universities, pharmaceutical companies, private research organizations, etc.;
d. the Project will be funded by public monies;
e. the Project will be governed by a council composed of scientists and clinicians representing divergent approaches, people with AIDS and HIV from all affected communities and their advocates.
3. To ensure that research is diverse and open:
a. equal consideration shall be given to conventional and other medical approaches and scientific theories, and researchers will represent divergent approaches;
b. the Project will focus on all people with AIDS and HIV, at all stages of illness, including children, women, gay men, lesbians, people of color, injection drug users and people with inadequate medical care and/or nutrition;
c. Project results shall be freely available without being delayed by the restrictions of professional publication practices;
d. curatives released primarily due to Project research shall not result in financial gain and shall be made available to all affected people regardless of ability to pay. 4. The Project will have extraordinary powers to:
a. direct and fund the utilization of Government research entities to clinically test promising curatives developed on the basis of its research;
b. exercise the right of eminent domain to: ● obtain from public and private organizations, with just compensation, samples of all potential curatives, all data and all relevant materials;
implement clinical testing for curatives under development by private companies unless they adhere to an approved time frame and are forthcoming with their data;
use existing pharmaceutical company facilities, with just compensation, for the production of curatives needed for Project research and, if effective, to produce such curatives in sufficient amounts for all people needing them.
This is the time to put your anger, compassion and strength toward making sure the AIDS Cure Project becomes a reality. This is the time for all of us, gay, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, women, children, all races and colors to call on our representatives and demand passage of this historic bill. For PWAS, HIV-positive, HIV-negative, their families and friends, this is the first time during the course of this plague that we say grassroots organizing is the key to passage. Remember we are poor, but we still command their votes on passage of this critical bill. The passage of this bill will tell us who our friends and enemies are.
This year we have won two awards, "Group of the Year" from the Gay People's Chronicle and the other "Best Event of the Year" for our December 1 Action. We call on the whole community to earn a place in history by helping us pass this bill. We need you now, this is the time to do something for all of humanity! Questions/donations can be sent to the AIDS Cure Project Working Group, 1430 W. 29th St., Suite #6, Cleveland, OH 44113; phone 621-2233.
To reach Representative Jerrold Nadler, phone 202-225-5635; fax: 202-225-6923; write to him at 434 Cannon Building, Washington, DC 20515.
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Six Year Anniversary
WEEKEND CELEBRATION
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Saturday May 21
Friday May 20th Arista Recording Artist
Taylor Dayne
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Sunday May 22
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