By Ramy Eletreby

HIV Names Reporting Bill Goes to Governor; Gay History Bill Passes Senate Committee

On April 6, the California State Senate voted 32-0 for SB 699, which would require HIV cases to be reported to local health officials by name rather than by code. The bill would assure that California remains competitive for federal HIV/AIDS funding under the Ryan White CARE Act. "We are heartened that the Senate recognized the urgency of this bill as each day that goes by without this new reporting system in place translates into lost federal dollars for care and services for Californians living with HIV/AIDS," said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a key sponsor of the bill. SB 699 now awaits Schwarzenegger's signature.

Meanwhile, on April 4, a Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-1 in favor of SB 1437, a bill that would require schools to begin teaching the contributions made by the LGBT community to American history. The bill, authored by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles), would expand the state education code to include underrepresented groups in social science curriculum. "Students deserve an education that gives them a full and accurate picture of our history and society rather than one skewed by negative images and stereotypes," said Kuehl in a statement. SB 1437 is now before the full Senate.

Gay Into Straight America

When does the personal become political? When you're "two women and a poodle on a one-year mission to transform themselves and our world." Dotti Berry and Robynne Sapp spiritually united on July 31, 2004, and vowed "to change the world through the expression of our love." On March 7, 2005, they were among those who were legally married in Oregon, though the state later voided their marriage. Inspired by the gay religious group Soulforce and by a straight minister's journey into LGBT America, they set off on a year-long journey with their standard poodle Rylee Joy last September.

"We...hope to dispel myths and fears that individuals have of GLBT persons and create a safe space for meaningful dialogue," they said. The couple has since traveled around the country, including Tennessee and Kentucky. They are tentatively confirmed to speak at the PFLAG meeting in Pasadena on May 2 and PFLAG/Orange County on May 3. They are confirmed for PFLAG Long Beach on May 10. For more information, contact dotti@GayIntoStraightAmerica.com or visit their Web site at www.GayIntoStraightAmerica.com.

L.A. County Honors Volunteers

On April 17, Los Angeles County honored Hollywood "Mayor" Johnny Grant and animal rights activist and Golden Girls actress Betty White at their annual Volunteer of the Year Awards Luncheon. Also honored were 75 volunteers to various county departments, including Maria Gallegos, 27, a three-year volunteer with the Department of Health Services (DHS); Lauren O'Connor, 35, a one-year DHS volunteer; and Robert "Bob" Forshay, an eight-year volunteer with the County's Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force.

"All of them work with members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual...and/or transgender...community in their volunteer roles," the county's Victoria Pipkin-Lane told IN. "Ms. Gallegos and Ms. O'Connor are longtime volunteers with Project Angel Food. Forshay of Palmdale has been a voice of reason on the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force and has made it his mission to resolve hate crime issues and to promote gender understanding."

Though HIV Infections Decrease in San Francisco, Health Officials Disappointed

In a new recommendation for San Francisco's HIV Prevention Planning Council, Department of Public Health epidemiologist Dr. Willi McFarland estimates a 10 percent decrease in the number of new HIV infections in the city. Though any decrease is a positive step in the right direction, the rate is not as low as McFarland had initially hoped after a federal study released by the Centers for Disease Control last June suggested infection rates in San Francisco were substantially lower than previously thought, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "It hasn't changed that much," McFarland tells the Chronicle, "but the fact is, we've reversed a trend. There is some evidence that our efforts at prevention are working." McFarland reports that even though the new estimates conclude that the actual infection rate among gay men in San Francisco has declined by about 20 percent in the past five years, the decrease balances an increase by about 25 percent in San Francisco's gay male population. The health department has estimated that there are 58,000 gay men living in the city today compared with 47,000 back in 2001, the Chronicle reports.

Transgender MTF Sues Company for Sexual Harassment

A Cameron Park transgender person, Danielle Ryan, 44, filed suit against engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff claiming she repeatedly received derogatory remarks from her co-workers and supervisors after she came to work wearing women's clothing 15 months ago. According to Ryan, she was eventually issued an ultimatum by company officials stating that she could either work three more months and then leave the company, or work part-time at a reduced wage. "It was obvious they were pushing me out the door, while the environment was very hostile," Ryan told the Sacramento Bee. "I would complain, numerous times ... and nothing would ever be done."

The lawsuit cites a 2003 statute in the California Fair Employment and Housing Act that prohibits job discrimination on the basis of gender. According to Chris Daly, director of the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco, several lawsuits have since been filed by transgender people claiming to have been denied new jobs but this case may be the first involving someone who has transitioned while employed at the same job, the Bee reported. The Transgender Law Center is not involved in the lawsuit.

California Log Cabin Republicans To Present Positive Highlights at National Convention

California Gov.or Arnold Schwarzenegger's Gay Pride Proclamation and results from a recent Field Poll are among the highlights Jeff Bissiri, executive director of the California Log Cabin Republicans, will present at the national Log Cabin Convention in Washington, D.C., April 27-30.

The convention will feature Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, former U.S. Senator John Danforth (R-Mo.), openly gay retiring Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.), Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), former Gov. Jane Swift (R-Mass.), and openly gay writer/blogger Andrew Sullivan and San Diego's lesbian district attorney, Bonnie Dumanis, among others.

Schwarzenegger's Pride proclamation was released earlier this year to the different state Pride groups. It reads: "I am pleased to extend warm greetings to all who have gathered for this year's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Celebrations. California is proud to host events that celebrate diversity and support active civic participation. I commend your efforts to strengthen your community and to encourage cultural development and social tolerance in our Golden State. The past 36 years have seen progress in the fight against discrimination and prejudice against the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. I applaud Californians for defending America's democratic ideals and working to promote respect and appreciation for all people. Your mission serves to increase awareness and further civil rights for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation. On behalf of all Californians, I offer my best wishes for every continued success. Sincerely, Arnold Schwarzenegger."

The Field Poll "indicates that 51 percent of Republicans support legal recognition of our relationships, including 18 percent who support marriage equality," Bissiri told IN, adding that California Log Cabin is part of the Equality for All Coalition, the community's response to the pending ballot initiatives. "And if your base is only 50 percent with you, you have a big problem." (For more on the Field Poll, go to www.eqca.org).

Log Cabin helped former Congressmember Brian Bilbray, a "friend" of gays, by not officially endorsing in the April 11 Special Election to fill the 50th Congressional District seat vacated by disgraced Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Several of the 18 candidates in the heavily GOP district are "openly antagonistic" toward gays and their supporters, a gay Republican told IN, and therefore Log Cabin worked behind the scenes. Bilbray won 15 percent of the vote, with Democrat Francine Busby winning 44 percent. The two will face off in the June primary.

For more on Log Cabin, go to www.ca.logcabin.org.