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www.GayPeoples Chronicle.com September 11, 2009 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 3
newsbriefs
Researchers find two antibodies that can block HIV
La Jolla, Calif.-Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute report that they have found two antibodies that can block HIV reproduction, stopping the virus from causing AIDS.
One of the most important factors in the discovery is that the antibodies target a portion of the virus that does not generally mutate, the main difficulty in finding a vaccine to the dis-
ease.
Researchers collected samples of blood from over 1,800 people in Thailand, Africa and Australia. All subjects had been infected for over three years without progressing to severe illness.
A team from South San Francisco isolated out the most resistant samples, then a Seattle team isolated the antibodies.
The two antibodies were found in an African patient, and worked against about 120 of the 162 strains of HIV to which they were subjected.
The long-range goal is to spur the body to create the antibodies on its own. Until then, the antibodies could be used to formulate a vaccine or to help patients who have progressed beyond simple HIV infection and have become ill.
Weddings begin in Vermont
Duxbury, Vt.-After 17 years together, Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan couldn't wait another minute to get married. So they didn't.
With Vermont's new law allowing same-sex marriage only a minute old, they tied the knot in a midnight ceremony at a rustic lodge, becoming one of the first couples to legally wed un-
der a law that took effect at midnight on September 1.
Dressed in suits, saying their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head, the two Whitehall, N.Y., men promised their love, exchanged rings and held hands during a modest 17minute ceremony. Moose Meadow Lodge co-owner Greg Trulson, who's also a justice of the peace, presided.
Vermont, which invented civil unions in 2000 after a same-sex couple challenged the inequality of state marriage statutes, was a mecca for gay couples who to that point had no way to officially recognize their relationships.
Since then, other states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa, have allowed same-sex marriage. Vermont in April became the first state to legalize gay marriage through a legislative act and not a court ruling, followed by New Hampshire, whose law takes effect in January; and Maine, whose law is on hold pending a Novem-ber referendum.
Meanwhile, Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream is marking the occasion in typically sweet fashion. They renamed their "Chubby Hubby" flavor "Hubby Hubby" for the month, but only in Vermont.
Agents fired over Texas bar raid
Fort Worth, Texas-Texas' liquor board has fired two agents and a supervisor over a raid at a gay bar in Fort Worth that left a customer with a serious head injury.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission says agent Christopher Aller and agent trainee Jason Chapman were
fired August 28. Both participated in the June 28 raid at the Rainbow Lounge, on the 40th anniversary of the raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City.
Their supervisor, Sgt. Terry Parsons, wasn't at the bar that night but also was fired, effective September 2.
Two other commission officials also were disciplined.
Fort Worth District Lt. Gene Anderson will be suspended without pay for three days and be on probation for six months.
Capt. Robert "Charlie" Cloud received a written reprimand.
Cleveland Pride endorses D.C. march
Cleveland-Cleveland Pride has. thrown its name it as another endorser of the October 11 National Equality March in Washington, D.C.
Other organizations that have endorsed the march already are the Human Rights Campaign, the national Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Metropolitan Community Churches and regional groups like Join the Impact Chicago, One Struggle One Fight and Freedom Democrats of MiamiDade.
Among the 140 groups and individuals backing the event are big-name celebrities and activists like Judy Shepard, the mother of slain college student Matthew Shepard, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, actors Charlize Theron and Alan Cumming, discharged gay Army Lt. Daniel Choi and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Organizers have pointed out that the
event will not pull funds away from fighting to retain Maine's equal marriage law.
"Everyone worries about resources being taken from Maine, but's not like we're renting some big building-it's being given to us," Derek Washington told the Washington Blade. "If anything, people from Maine should send reps here to spread the word about what they're doing. Everyone around the country should send people there to spread the word."
Iraq War vet loses congressional race
Sacramento, Calif.-Despite endorsements from the Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign, a gay Iraq War vet came in fourth in the Democratic primary to replace exiting Rep. Ellen Tauscher in Congress.
Lt. Gov. John Garamendi took 26 percent of the vote, which will pit him against attorney David Harmer, who led the field of 14 Republicans.
Coming behind Garamendi was State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, with 17 percent, Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan with 12 percent, and finally Anthony Woods, the Iraq War veteran.
Woods, 28, is a graduate of West Point who served two tours, earning him a bronze star.
He knew going into the campaign that he was a long shot. However, had he been successful, he would have been the first openly gay African American in Congress.
Compiled from wire reports by Brian DeWitt, Anthony Glassman and Patti Harris.
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