LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
In Brief |
Delaware Liberty Fund Party Looks to the Future
Who will run for election next year in Delaware? Will House Bill 99, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, have a hearing in the Senate? What does the future hold for the GLBT community in Delaware? Help the Delaware Liberty Fund "Forecast the Future" at a gala fundraiser to be held on Saturday, August 18th from 7 to 10 PM. The event will be held at "Le Shack," 97 Sussex Street, Rehoboth Beach, one of the beautiful homes featured on the Rehoboth Art League homes tour. Local fortuneteller and palm reader, Maria, will help guests forecast things to come. Special guest star, Christopher Peterson, will enable us to remember the past by portraying personalities such as Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, and others. All are invited to come celebrate the present with the help of pianist Michael Helman and enjoy hors d'oeuvres provided by Gilligan's Restaurant in Lewes. Tickets are $100 per person in advance and are in limited supply. Proceeds will benefit the Delaware Liberty Fund, the state's only GLBT political action committee. For more information, call Preston Watkins at (302) 684-8199 in the Rehoboth area, (302) 633-6635 in Wilmington, or e-mail Psly@bellatlantic.net. The Delaware Liberty Fund seeks to survey candidates in Delaware political races, endorse those who support equal and civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons, announce these candidates in a voter guide, and make financial contributions to their campaigns. Living Well with HIV: Health Topics for people with HIV The second annual Living Well with HIV conference will be held September 17, 2001, at the Atlantic Sands Conference Center, Baltimore Avenue and the Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The goal of the conference is to empower people living with HIV to take a more active role in their treatment. Individuals will learn how to develop a strategy for making important decisions on a multitude of health and psychosocial issues. The conference is a collaborative effort of Christiana Care Health Services and the Wellness Foundation of Delaware. Topics to be discussed include: The Impact of HIV Resistance, Metabolic Complications from Anti-Retroviral Therapies, Minimizing Drug Side Effects, and Being Positive in "Negative" Social Situations. A highly respected slate of speakers will make presentations, including Dr. David Cohen and Dr. David Perlada, Infectious Disease Physicians, Christopher James, Clinical Pharmacist, and Arlene Bincsik and Carolyn Savini, Registered Nurses. Local service providers and major pharmaceutical companies will be on hand with informative exhibits and to answer questions. The conference is free of charge and open to any individual living with HIV/AIDS, including those that are not patients of the Christiana Care HIV clinics. A family member or caregiver is also welcome to attend, space permitting. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Transportation may be available for individuals living in Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware. A special group rate of $89 is available at the Atlantic Sands Hotel for anyone desiring overnight lodging. Attendees may call the hotel directly at 302-227-2511 or 800-422-0600 to make room reservations; the rate is guaranteed until Aug. 17, 2001. Pre-registration is required. Registration deadline is September 10, 2001. To register, call: The Wellness Clinics at 302-856-5135 or 739-5610, or the Wellness Foundation at 302-226-5510, or e-mail: WellnessFoundationofDelaware@hotmail.com. Rep. Barney Frank Stumps for Mark Shriver in Rehoboth Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) will join friends and supporters of Mark Shriver, Democratic candidate for Maryland's 8th Congressional District, at a fundraising cocktail party on Saturday, August 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event is being hosted by Dr. James A. D'Orta, at his home in Rehoboth Beach, 123 Silver Lake Drive. The suggested contribution is $50 per person. Mark is currently serving his second term in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing western Montgomery County. He is running for Congress because he believes that those issues that he's worked on in Annapolis for the past seven years are the same issues being decided right now in Washingtonissues such as gun control, services to children and working families, and sound environmental and energy policies. Mark believes that those policies that are pursued should reflect the values and principles of the people of Montgomery County. In the area of civil rights, Mark Shriver has an exceptionally strong record. He is a long-time supporter of the Gay Rights bill that passed the Maryland legislature during its 2001 session. The bill makes it illegal to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation in the areas of housing, public accommodations and employment. Unfortunately, its implementation has been delayed due to the bill's opponents having petitioned it to referendum. Mark Shriver, however, says that he "remains confident that the voters of the state will do the right thing and make anti-discrimination the law in Maryland." Mark Shriver has also been outspoken in his opposition to hate crimes. "There are few crimes worse than those that are intended to hurt someone because of their race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation," he says. "These hate crimes can tear apart the neighborhoods and communities of our nation." Mark supports a vigorous federal role in preventing, investigating and prosecuting hate crimes and if elected to Congress, has pledged to take a strong stand against such discrimination. For more information on the event or the campaign, please call 240-747-3005. Military Training Manual Is Clear, Concise on Gay Policy Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) praised a recent Army publication on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass," the military's anti-gay policy. The Department of the Army published Dignity & Respect: A Training Guide on Homosexual Conduct Policy, earlier this summer. Designed in comic book format, the guide covers the policy's definition of homosexual conduct, the investigation process, the rights of soldiers who are targeted for investigation and the commander's role in investigations involving sexual orientation, as well as a comprehensive section on harassment. "The guide is the first publication from any branch of the service that attempts to explain, in comprehensive and clear language, exactly what the military's policy on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel says," said SLDN Executive Director C. Dixon Osburn. "The other services should follow the Army's lead and make similar publications available for their troops. While we do not agree with current policy, as long as Congress makes it the law of the land, soldiers should know what the rules are and commanders should stop asking, pursuits and harassment." In addition to explaining the policy, the guide also lists a number of resources for soldiers, noting which Army personnel are considered confidential. There is also a special note to Army leaders, noting that "Proactive training and the prevention of any potential harassment conditions will help to build the environment of trust and teamwork essential to mission accomplishment." The guide concludes by stating that "Harassment will not be tolerated." SLDN also commended the Army for its training policies in Conduct Unbecoming, the group's Seventh Annual Report, released in March. "We remain encouraged by the Army's commitment to training their troops on the policy," Osburn said. "The publication of Dignity & Respect is a significant sign that Army leaders are trying to do what's right for our soldiers under the constraints of current law." SLDN assists men and women in the military who face witch hunts, death threats, harassment and discharge under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass." |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 11, August 10, 2001. |