A special note about PrEP and Truvada
In this issue of San Diego LGBT Weekly we are tackling the questions surrounding PrEP, commonly known as Truvada. The medication is now being prescribed as a preventative measure against contracting HIV and the community needs to be educated about the drug benefits and risks. We reached out to Dr. Adam Zweig, medical director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation for answers. If you are sexually active, our feature is a must-read. You owe it to yourself and your sexual partners.
San Diego Airport “All Gender Restrooms”
Without much fanfare, the San Diego Airport unveiled all gender restrooms that can be used by anyone regardless of gender expression or identity. Community member Robert Gleason is the chairman of the Airport Authority and is given a lot of credit for this new development. While the restrooms have existed prior, the new signage reflects the more inclusive nature of the spaces.
The single person restrooms have a sign designating the restroom as all gender. On the sign, there is a symbol for a man, a woman, a baby and a new adult. While I support this development, can someone tell me what the “third” adult symbol represents?
Obama believed in same-sex marriage in 2008
Some LGBT activists were crowing about the fact that Obama supported same-sex marriage in 2008 but took the public political position of equivalent civil unions. As usual LGBT activist silliness, “Obama lied to us,” some said. Obama is the best president ever on LGBT issues and thank goodness he put his personal beliefs on the back burner to try to come to a compromise on the marriage equality issue. Otherwise, Obama probably would not have become president and been able to move LGBT civil rights dramatically forward. I’m sure a President McCain would have been much better. I think some LGBT activists are bored; it’s hard for them when things are moving forward so quickly under Obama and they really don’t have much to complain about. Thank you Obama for being politically savvy; that’s exactly why I led your National LGBT Leadership Council.
New legal argument to delay some same-sex marriages in Alabama
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore argued that the Federal District Court ruling overturning bans on same-sex marriages, as well as the constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage in the state, only applies to the defendants in the cases. In essence, saying the ruling only applies to the couples involved not to the state as a whole. This led to some judges refusing to perform same-sex marriages in Alabama.
Moore, known for his fight to put the Ten Commandments in the Alabama statehouse, said that the application of a Federal District Court ruling with respect to same-sex marriage to the entire state had happened elsewhere because “… nobody has stood up and said, ‘Wait a minute, state court rulings on these issues are just as authoritative as federal court rulings.’”
While the Federal District Court ruled that a probate judge in Mobile County must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Moore’s arguments are not being ignored by those in the legal community. Stay tuned.
In the end, this will all be moot when the Supreme Court rules in June. Which based upon the Supreme Court’s decision not to issue a stay of the Alabama ruling by a 7-2 vote seems to indicate that same-sex marriage for the entire nation is just around the corner.
Oregon bisexual ascendency to governor
When Oregon’s Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned last week, Oregon’s Secretary of State Kate Brown ascended to become the nation’s first bisexual governor. Bisexual activists are hoping that Brown will bring more attention to the bisexual community from a public relations, as well as political perspective. Brown is married to a man and has two children but has always publicly touted her bisexuality. Brown has said, “Some days I feel like I have a foot in both worlds, yet never really belonging to either.” Authenticity thy name is Kate Brown.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
