The San Francisco Examiner - Wednesday, March 19, 1997
Lisa M. Krieger of the Examiner Staff

Gay and bisexual men in San Francisco are highly educated about HIV and have adopted condom use into their sexual activity, the study found.

But while some men use them every time, many find consistent condom use difficult. Access to condoms isn't the problem. Rather, a range of psychological, cultural and social barriers is blocking these men's intentions to protect themselves from HIV, according to the report.

AIDS prevention issues are "much more complex" than simple condom distribution, said foundation spokesman Jeff De Lucio-Brock.

Later this month, the foundation plans to reintroduce the Compass Project, one-on-one prevention counseling for gay and bisexual men.

AMA policies protested

AIDS activists demonstrated outside an American Medical Association meeting Saturday to protest policies and proposed legislation they say verge on quarantining people with AIDS.

Demonstrators from ACT UP and Us Women are angered by the AMA's endorsement of mandatory HIV testing for pregnant women and its decision to back a federal bill aimed at creating an HIV-positive national registry.

The HIV Prevention Bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., with more than 70 co-sponsors, would require that new HIV cases be reported to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. States must already notify the CDC about new AIDS cases; about half report new HIV cases.

It also would require states to alert people to possible contacts with HIV-infected individuals. Additionally, it would require testing of anyone accused of a sex crime, require insurers to disclose HIV test results to applicants and allow disclosure of HIV status of children up for adoption.

Coburn, a physician, says the provisions will protect those who aren't infected and help those who are to learn their status quickly so they can take advantage of new, life-prolonging treatments.

Rep. Dave Weldon, a Florida Republican and physician, said that "now that the disease is much more manageable, I think the political climate has changed, and people are much more receptive to it."

Dr. Nancy Dickey of the AMA agreed: "We are staunchly behind confidentiality (of test results), but this is a matter of public health."

But activists such as ACT UP's Jennifer DePiero counters that "the Coburn bill is the closest thing we've seen to quarantining people with AIDS."

Dawn Acero, spokeswoman for Us Women, noted that the AMA opposed mandatory testing of health care workers after a Florida dentist case in which a state official disclosed names of HIV-positive people to friends. "Pregnant women are apparently a different story," she said.

Pediatric protease formulas

The government has approved two pediatric formulas of anti-viral protease inhibitors, offering HIV-infected children access to the same drugs that have helped adults.

The Food and Drug Administration approved ritonavir (Norvir) and nelfinavir (Viracept) for use in children 2 and older, although it is unknown how effective they are in this population. The FDA approves pediatric drugs if they are safe and early testing indicates they will work similarly in children and adults.

The Pediatric AIDS Foundation urged protease makers to quickly study newborns and infants.

Events

* A forum will be this Wednesday to discuss HIV prevention and education programs inside prisons in the United States and Canada. The forum will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention, 973 Market St., in the seventh-floor conference room. Call (510) 834-5656, ext. 3150.

* A community forum about "speed" and HIV will be March 29, 7 to 9 p.m., sponsored by the STOP AIDS Project and Q Action. It will be at the Center for Alternative Families, 425 Divisadero St., No. 203. Call (415) 621-7177, ext. 255.

* The Sixth Annual Easter Basket Sale for AIDS will be March 29, at Fort Mason Center, Building A, on Buchanan Street and Marina Boulevard. Decorated Easter baskets have been donated by Bay Area celebrities, florists, bakers, vintners and others. Visitors may view the baskets and bid on them in a silent auction between 10 and 11 a.m. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the remaining baskets will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Pets Are Wonderful Support and Visual Aid. Call (415) 441-1282.

* The Women's AIDS Network announced two training sessions for women to organize and advocate for change in HIV policy in advance of AIDS Lobby Day. Federal issues will be studied on April 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; state issues will be the focus on May 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both sessions will be at 973 Market St.

The toll

Joseph Niedo, 33, an Oklahoma native who came to The City and became active in the Native American AIDS Project, attending their conference three years ago in New Mexico ... Bob Vargas, 42, who was born in Cuba and emigrated to Miami as a child, eventually becoming a major Sonoma County AIDS activist ... Forest Baker, 54, an anti-war and later AIDS activist in San Francisco, also an artist who made collages and quilts and frequented the "hippie gay bar," the Capri.

Correction

Contrary to last week's column, New York City-based activist Peter Staley is not deceased, but alive and kicking. AIDSweek regrets the error.

Note

AIDS statistics can no longer be updated weekly due to a recent decision by city, state and federal epidemiologists to release new data only four times a year.

Date

reported / Cases / Deaths

S.F. 3/1 23,841 16,604

Calif. 3/1 99,429 63,842

U.S. 3/1 548,102 343,000

WHO(rprtd) 3/1 8,400,000 6,400,000

Figures are cumulative since June 1981.

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