By Ramy Eletreby

Was African American Minister Fired Over AIDS Ministry?

Pastor Andrew Robinson-Gaither has been an activist preacher for nearly 20 years. He has been saluted by former Black Panthers and courted by Republican politicians in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. But now Gaither is out of a job at the Faith United Methodist Church in South Los Angeles because, he told the Los Angeles Times, his church board didn't like his AIDS ministry. "People would say to me, 'You're trying to make this a gay church.' I really think that's what's behind this," the pastor told the Times.

Not true, say members of his 200-member congregation. After Gaither took a health-related leave of absence in June, the church discovered they had severe financial problems, including more than $125,000 in back taxes. "He's a wonderful pastor and a wonderful person, but not necessarily the best steward," said one parishioner. "We welcome everybody here."

"Every black church should have an AIDS ministry that caters not only to women that are heterosexual, but to gay men, transsexuals and lesbians," black LGBT activist Jasmyne Cannick told IN. "Pastor Gaither's work at Faith United was not in vain and I am sure that he will find a new home and continue his work." -- Karen Ocamb

Arraignment Delayed in Trial for Sarah's Murder

The arraignment was delayed Dec. 21 for the Alhambra couple who allegedly murdered a little girl removed from her lesbian foster parents. When the proceeding resumes Jan. 9 in Pasadena Superior Court, Frances and Armando Abundis are expected to plead not guilty to beating 2-year-old Sarah Chavez to death in October.

Sarah died six months after a judge took her out of the apparently happy foster home of Corri Planck and Diane Hardy Garcia. The Los Angeles couple, who have both worked as gay rights activists, say the system designed to protect foster children failed Sarah at every point.

The delay in the arraignment came because Armando Abundis' lawyer, Ron Hedding, left the case without explanation. Armando Abundis will now be represented by a public defender.

Judge Teri Schwartz is presiding over the arraignment. Schwartz is an out lesbian who received the highest rating from the L.A. Gay County Bar Association. A court secretary says the actual trial will probably be assigned to another judge, which is the usual procedure. -- John Rabe, 89.3-KPCC

HIV Oral Test's Reliability Causes Concern

On Dec. 15, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center stopped using OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test after 13 false positives in November called the test's reliability into question.

The Center offers an average of 800 free HIV tests a month, 80 percent of which are the oral OraQuick test that delivers results within 20 minutes. The Center also offers the equally fast OraQuick finger stick test, which draws a drop of blood from the finger.

"If the public loses confidence in the reliability of HIV tests, they're just going to stop testing," said Center Director of Health and Mental Health Services Quentin O'Brien. "[W]e can't allow that to happen. Fortunately, we've noticed no irregularities with the rapid finger stick test and have already been successful in convincing clients to opt for that test now."

In New York City, 30 false positives were delivered in November alone, and in San Francisco, 49 false positives were delivered in 2005 out of 9,400 tests. Ohio reported false positives as well. The Centers for Disease Control issued an advisory on Dec. 12 recommending that all HIV-positive results from the oral OraQuick test be immediately followed up with the OraQuick finger stick test for confirmation. In addition to the Center, the UC San Francisco AIDS Health Project, the NYC health department and at least three other facilities have stopped using the rapid oral test.

OraSure Technologies said Dec. 10 it is taking action to ensure "that customers receive the highest quality results" from its tests.

Infected? Spread the Word

On Dec. 14 the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) launched an innovative Web site designed to enable those infected with HIV or an STD to anonymously notify their partner(s) by e-mail postcards. The Web site -- www.inSPOTLA.org -- has already proven successful in San Francisco, where an average of 750 people visited the site (minus the HIV category) per day, with 500 e-cards sent per month, according to AHF. Additionally, 51 percent of those who received cards clicked on information about testing and treatment. The L.A. site includes HIV partner notification.

"This Web site will be a powerful tool in reducing the spread of STDs, including HIV, in L.A. County," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of public health at the L.A. Department of Health Services. "By giving people an easy way to notify their sex partners, inSPOTLA.org will enable more people to get tested and treated early for HIV and other STDs, preventing complications and helping stop the chain of infection."

Deb Levine, executive director of the nonprofit site creator Internet Sexuality Information Services told the Los Angeles Times that less than 1 percent of e-mails have been reported as pranks. ISIS also monitors for hackers. -- Karen Ocamb

Hate Crimes in L.A. County Decrease in Total, but Increase Against Minority Groups

On Dec. 12, the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations released statistics that showed the lowest numbers since 1989 with a total number of 502 hate crimes reported in 2004 as compared to 691 reported in 2003 -- a 27 percent decrease.

However, the report showed large increases in crimes against Mexicans (15 in 2003, 41 in 2004; 173 percent increase), and transgender people (eight in 2003, 13 in 2004; 63 percent increase), with slight increases in crimes against Asians, Christians, and Muslims.

Of those 502 hate crimes, 55 percent were based on race/ethnicity, a 23 percent decrease from 2003. Of the total 285 racial hate crimes, 156 (55 percent) victims were black as compared to 193 in 2003 (19 percent decrease). African Americans are still the most targeted group, accounting for 31 percent of the total number of hate crimes.

There were 130 (25 percent) reported incidents based on sexual orientation compared to 192 in 2003 (32 percent decrease), making the LGBT community the second most targeted group with 25 percent of the total number of hate crimes. Crimes against LGBTs were also among the most violent of the all hate crimes reported.

Partygoers Use AIDS Drug Instead of Condoms

HIV-negative men who party at gay dance clubs are using the AIDS drug tenofovir as a prophylaxis instead of condoms during unsafe sex, the Los Angeles Times reported Dec. 19. The drug is being sold in packets that also include Viagra and Ecstasy.

On Feb. 5, 2005, IN reported on new Centers for Disease Control recommendations for a three-drug cocktail treatment that, if started within 72 hours of exposure, might inhibit HIV infection. However, the CDC's Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri stressed that while such treatment could serve as a "safety net," it is "clearly not a morning after pill" and not recommended for those frequently exposed to HIV.

Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, expressed concern that people might consider "popping a pill" easier than consistent condom use but supported testing for a "night before pill" which is "much more promising than vaccine research ... But obviously who to give it to would have to be carefully thought out."

Dr. Michael Hitchcock, of Gilead Sciences, which makes tenofovir, told IN that safety tests have resulted in some people concluding that "this is safe enough to use in uninfected people and therefore this is an option for long-term prevention."

However, other HIV experts are concerned that recreational use of tenofovir may lead to overall resistance to medications as well as decreased condom use. "This is a very worrisome development," Dr. David Hardy, a longtime HIV doctor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center told the Times. -- Karen Ocamb

Norma Bowles and members of her LGBT theater activist troupe Fringe Benefits joined about 300 anti-war protesters organized by ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) at a vigil and Christmas caroling protest Dec. 17 at Hollywood and Highland. Also endorsing the vigil was the Coalition for Equal Marriage Rights. Fringe Benefits and ANSWER jointly created a Santa's Hearth with two tiny stockings for the children of Iraq and New Orleans filled with lumps of coal from President Bush. Santa, played by an Orange County Palestinian, held a sign saying, "Fund People's Needs, NOT the War Machine."

Nearly 100 people attended the C.I.T.Y. x1 Egg Nog Youth Social at Plummer Park over Thanksgiving weekend. The event was organized to provide the group of LGBTQ youth (ages 14-24) an alcohol and tobacco-free venue where they could socialize. The Trevor Project, an LGBT youth crisis hotline, and the youth group Bike Out also participated, providing raffle prizes including Nike Air Max shoes, DVDs, CDs, T-shirts, and gift certificates. In addition to recreation and raffles, the group also enjoyed a performance by 2005 West Hollywood Idol contest runner-up, Mariah Sutlapa. For more on the group, visit www.cityx1.com.