October 2000 I Out in the Mountains 15 —_-: news‘ :_— 4. '__§;.,__ World Briefs continued lrom page three rights beyond those offered in any other country. The new law will bring little change to the daily lives of most gays in a country that has long been at the vanguard of gay rights. But activists say it marks a bold step toward rec- ognizing the equality of gay and heterosexual unions in the Netherlands. Lawmakers thumped their desks in approval when the vote passed 109-33 in the lower house, and some of the scores of witnesses in the packed public gallery applaud- ed and embraced. The bill still needs approval by the upper house, considered a formality, and is expected to take effect next year. Opponents warned the legis- lation will isolate the Netherlands and said it threat- ens Dutch values. Blood donors GAITHERSBURG, Md. - It looks like gay men still won’t be welcome at the local blood drive. A team of scientific advisers is telling the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the 15-year-old ban on accepting blood from men who have sex with men should stand. They say there’s a lack of evidence about how it might affect thelAIDS risk in the nation’s blood supply. All men who seek to donate blood are asked if they have had sex, even once, with anoth- er man since 1977. Those who say they have are permanently banned from donating blood. Critics say that policy, in effect since 1985, is outdated because better testing can now detect virtually all that causes AIDS—and there’s an increasingly urgent need for more blood donors. Cypsiairs T Purple Wedgewood Serving Platter Very Unusual Good stuff at fair prices. We buy antiques! 207 Flynn Ave. Burlington across the street from Whistle Stop Antiques "Two Great Shops” (802) 859-8966 Store Hours Tue-Sun 10am-6pm blood - infected with HIV, the virus 6 Also, the gay community contends the policy is discrim- inatory, forbidding donations by thousands of men whose HIV tests show they’re healthy. So the Food and Drug Administration asked its scien- tific advisers Thursday whether it should change the rule to ban only men who had sex with another man within the past five years. But the advisers voted 7-6 that there was not enough evi- dence that it’s safe to make that change. The FDA is not bound by its advisers’ decisions, but typically follows them. May ousted LOS ALAMITOS, Calif.— An Arizona lawmaker is being recommended for an honorable discharge from the Army Reserve. Reserve Lt. Steve May was accused by the Army of violat- ing its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy by acknowledging his %°+¢gl5 M ,3. 0 $0. ($6. A @ ' $0; @025 Wt“ BLACKWOOD “"<:».,$ “~90, ASSO‘.‘(‘:t'Io1'§:’J;')l’=.-‘S, PC /2 blacl