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August 26, 2011

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 3

ARC Ohio merges with Ohio AIDS Coalition

by Anthony Glassman

Columbus-The largest AIDS service organization in the state just got a little larger, as the AIDS Resource Center Ohio board voted unanimously last weekend to merge with the Ohio AIDS Coalition.

The coalition's board also voted unanimously for the merger, two weeks earlier.

The Ohio AIDS Coalition was formed in 1989, and has been at the forefront of advocacy for HIV services in the state since then. It has held 75 Healing Weekends for people with HIV, as well as leadership summits for HIV-positive young adults and other education and advocacy programs.

Unlike other AIDS organizations around the state, OAC is a membership group. The funds raised from dues put on the programs, as well as help pay for people with HIV or AIDS to speak to their representatives in Congress. Its membership includes not only people with HIV, but also their family mem-

bers, caregivers and others concerned with the disease and its effects.

OAC operates throughout the state, with board members from different cities and programs across the map to make them more readily available for people to participate in them.

After the merger, the Ohio AIDS Coalition name will remain attached to its programs, although it will operate under the aegis of ARC Ohio's non-profit status and benefit from the additional resources the larger organization brings to the table.

Originally formed from several Daytonarea groups, ARC Ohio merged with David's House Compassion in Toledo in 2006 and with the Columbus AIDS Task Force this summer. It now provides HIV-related services in 66 counties-three-quarters of the state and has offices in Athens, Chillicothe, Columbus, Dayton, Lima,

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Mansfield, Newark and Toledo.

OAC executive director Kevin Sullivan, who will stay on as advisor, said that the organization was in good financial shape right now, but the merger was necessary to secure that status for the future.

"OAC enjoys considerable respect around the state, but we've been aware of the need to secure long-term sustainability, and the need to extend the reach of advocacy by aligning with a larger organization," he said. "This merger accomplishes both of those goals on every level, it's the right next step for OAC."

"They've provided essential services over the years, with a talented, dedicated staff," said Bill Hardy, the executive director of ARC Ohio. "We're all committed to making sure that work goes on. And we all believe that by joining forces in this way, we can mobilize an even stronger voice in the advocacy and

public policy education arenas.”

The July 1 merger with the Columbus AIDS Task Force positioned ARC Ohio to become the largest advocacy force on HIV in the Statehouse. With the addition of OAC's advocacy work, they are now almost a "superpower" in the field. A policy brief released at the end of June on the inequality in prevention funding for men who have sex with men saw other major groups sign on to it, including the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, Caracole in Cincinnati, Equality Ohio and the Community AIDS Network

in Akron.

"The merger is a very important way to keep the legacy and progress of OAC alive,” said Naimah O'Neal, a board member of OAC from Cleveland. "This will ensure that OAC's rich history of advocating for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS continues."

Anti-gay lawmaker admits paying man for 'good time'

Indianapolis Indiana State Rep. Phillip Hinkle has admitted to paying an 18-yearold man for a good time.

Kameryn Gibson says that he had put up an ad on Craigslist looking for a "sugga daddy." He said the ad was put up as a joke between his sister and himself, and that he was not trying to work as an escort.

Hinkle admits that he answered the ad and hired the teen, but insists that he is not gay.

Gibson says Hinkle offered him $80 to spend time with him, with an additional tip for a "really good time." He gave the Indianapolis Star a set of e-mails between him and the Republican lawmaker that back up his story.

Both agree that Hinkle picked up Gibson on August 6 and drove him to the J.W. Marriott hotel in downtown Indianapolis. Both also say that, while Hinkle did pay Gibson, no sex act occurred.

When they got to the hotel room, Gibson said that Hinkle was "very old" and he was not interested. Hinkle exposed himself, Gibson said, and when he tried to leave, the lawmaker grabbed his shirt, his arm, and then his posterior.

Gibson says that he called his sister Megan from the bathroom, and Hinkle gave him an iPad, a Blackberry and $100 to keep it quiet.

Hinkle s says he never exposed himself and never offered anything to the Gibsons to keep quiet. Hinkle adds that when he went to the bathroom, Gibson left with the items.

Gibson said that he would not have come forward, but he learned that Hinkle was a conservative, anti-gay lawmaker who had voted for the state's marriage ban and pushed through the "In God We Trust" license plates. After that, he knew he had to reveal what had happened.

Hinckle hints that there was an extortion plan that went wrong, but he will not make a police report. He also said that while he had already decided months ago not to seek re-election-he is 64-he would not resign, either, as House Speaker Brian Bosma has called for.

Slurs shouted as teen beaten to death

Waterloo, Iowa-A gay teen was beaten on August 19, dying in the hospital two days later.

Police are investigating the attack on Marcellus Andrews, who died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Shortly after midnight on Friday morning, Andrews was at his friend's house when she and her cousin decided to go for a walk. Andrews stayed behind on her enclosed porch. Before the two women had walked a block, they heard yelling, and found a truck full of people calling him faggot and "Mercedes," feminizing his first name.

Tudia Simpson, the friend's cousin, told the people to stop, and when they didn't, she threw a punch at one of the women in the group. Nakita Wright, the friend, saw

Marcellus Andrews

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Andrews on the ground in the middle of the scuffle. When she tried to help him up, another boy kicked him in the head.

After the fight was over, Andrews was dazed, and Wright dialed 911.

Police said that Andrews had a history with his attackers, but they have not arrested anyone yet. They also said that none of the witnesses had told them of any anti-gay slurs being used.

Baldwin could be first out senator

Madison, Wis.-Tammy Baldwin, the first person elected to the House of Representatives after coming out, may also become the first out person elected to the Senate.

Former senator Russ Feingold announced that he would not seek the seat being vacated by Sen. Herb Kohl. Feingold, being

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the senior member of the Wisconsin delegation in the House, had a "first-look" opportunity to run for the Kohl's seat.

In early polling among possible Democratic contenders for Kohl's seat, Baldwin leads Rep. Ron Kind and former Rep. Steve Kagen. Baldwin had 37 percent in the poll, with Kind at 21 percent and Kagen at 15 percent. When polled about a race just between Baldwin and Kagen, she led 48 percent to 19 percent.

If she wins the election in 2012, she will be the first out senator. When she was elected to Congress, she was the first out person elected to the House of Representatives. All

the previous gay members came out after first being elected to the House.

Full marriage may be on Oregon ballot

Salem, Ore.-Pro-marriage advocacy groups are preparing to gather signatures and educate the public in favor of a full same-sex marriage initiative to go on the 2012 ballot.

The initiative was announced at a fundraiser for Basic Rights Oregon, at which the keynote speaker was Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown.

continued on page 11

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