AIDS Drug Advertising WASHINGTON — The fed- eral government is concerned about the messages being sent by advertisements for drugs used to fight AIDS. The Food and Drug Administration says some advertisements, particularly on the West Coast, seemed to imply that with modern treat- ment people did not need to worry about AIDS. An ad might, for example, show two people enjoying out- door recreation,‘with the cap- tion that_they both tested posi- tive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but were still enjoying life. The agency’s Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications said it reviewed these direct to con- sumer ads and concluded that “many do not adequately con- vey that these drugs neither cure HIV infection nor reduce its transmission.” The advertising in question needs to be changed within 90 days, FDA said, noting that promoting the drugs without displaying their limitations, and using images not represen- tative ofHlV patients, is in vio- lation of the federal Food and Drug Act. New York Mayor NEW YORK — Could New York be getting a mayor who’s in favor of gay marriage? Probably not. But one of the candidates to succeed retiring Mayor Rudolph Giuliani says that’s his view. Kenny Kramer, the real-life inspiration for the “Seinfeld” character that shares his sur- name on the television show Seinfeld is the Libertarian Party nominee for mayor. “I’m not gonna run a token campaign, or a campaign just to make a point,” Kramer told a meeting of party members. “I’m in it to win it.” Kramer voiced support for the decriminalization of drugs and for gay and lesbian mar- riages. But he said there were many other issues that he was- n’t prepared to discuss because he was not sufficiently well informed about them. Bullying Bill OLYMPIA, Wash. — Christian conservatives say an attempt to prevent school bul- lying is part of the homosexual agenda. A bill that would have cur- tailed bullying has stalled in the Washington state legisla- ture amid opposition from the Christian groups. "Under the measure, school districts would have to write policies against bullying and train employees and volunteers to stop harassment. Teachers, police, Gov. Gary Locke and Attorney General Christine Gregoire said the leg- islation is needed to protect picked-on kids. But the state’s chapter of the Christian Coalition said it could be seen as trying to pre- vent some students from con- demning homosexuality. Rick Forcier, director of the Christian Coalition of Washington, said the measure could lead to homosexual sen- sitivity training in schools. “We don’t want to see kids beat up on and we would like to see the rules that are already in place enforced,” he said. “But I think this one went well beyond what we think is neces- sary.” ACLU Leader NEW YORK — The new leader of the leading civil liber- ties group in the nation is an openly gay man. Anthony D. Romero, 35, currently serves as a director of the Ford Foundation’s program for human rights and interna- tional cooperation, overseeing $90 million in grants. As the ACLU’s executive director, he said he will work to make the civil rights organiza- tion more prominent in local communities. He said the ACLU will continue to focus on defending religious liberty, reproductive freedom and the rights of women, minorities and gays. “I hope to begin my tenure as the leader of this vitally important organization by sparking a new dialogue about the bedrock values of American democracy,” he said, adding that his goal is to “pro- mote a new generation of com- mitted civil libertarians and civil rights activists.” German Memorial BERLIN — Activists in Germany are seeking a memo- rial in Berlin to the thousands of gay men who were killed during the Holocaust. “Such a monument would be a lasting symbol against intolerance, hostility and exclusion aimed at gays and lesbians,” activists for the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany said in a statement launching the initiative. Although a city spokes- woman said officials in princi- ple agreed such a monument was needed, Berlin Mayor Eberhard Diepgen has opposed ' creating a so-called “Memorial Mile” in the new capital com- memorating various groups persecuted by the Nazis. Besides gays, groups repre- senting Gypsies, or Roma, murdered by the Nazis are also pressing for a monument in the center of Berlin, seeking equal prominence with a planned memorial for the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. _ _ Few of the 15,000 gay men put in concentration camps sur- vived, the federation said. The Nazi regime criminalized homosexuality among men, strengthening the legal code in 1935 and condemning thou- sands for homosexual acts. Although there were excep- tions, lesbians were not gener- ally targeted by the Nazis. Nun Honored _ PHILADELPHIA — A Roman Catholic nun disci- plined by the Vatican for minis- tering for 22 years to the gay community has been honored at the nation’s largest sympo- sium on gays and lesbians. Sister Jeannine Gramick was presented the annual Tom Stoddard National Role Model Award, given annually to a per- son who has fought for civil rights for gays and lesbians. It was given by PrideFest America, a weeklong celebra- tion of gay and lesbian culture. Gramick used the awards ceremony as anopportunity to apologize for her church. “As a Roman Catholic sis- ter, I want to ask pardon of the" lesbian and gay community for my part in any oppression on the part of my church,” she said. Gramick was prohibited last May from publicly discussing her work with gays and les- bians or the process that led the Vatican, in 1999, to order Gramick and a priest to stop their pastoral work with gays. Gramick no longer leads spiritual retreats for gays, but she has refused to obey the church’s admonition to stop talking about homosexuality. For the past‘ year, she has trav- eled the country to lecture about civil rights for homosex- uals and about the Vatican’s efforts to stop her. 3 june 2091, QITP1 - 3 Hate Crimes AUSTIN,’ Texas —— A hate crimes bill has become law in Texas. ‘ President Bush opposed the proposal while he was gover- nor. A new bill was introduced and pushed through the legisla- ture this year and new Republican Gov. Rick Perry . signed it. The James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act was named for the black man whowas dragged to his death from a pickup truck in 1998 by three whites. “With my signature, Texas now has stronger penalties against crimes motivated by hate,” said Perry, who had been , noncommittal until the signing. “This law sends a signal to would-be criminals that if you attack someone because of their religion or race or gender, you face stiffer penalties.” The bill strengthens penal- ties for crimes motivated by a victim’s race, religion, color, sex, disability, sexual prefer- ence, age or national origin. Texas already has a hate- crimes law that increases penalties if a crime is proven to be “motivated by bias or preju- dice,” but it does not list spe- cific categories of people who are protected. Some prosecu- tors have said it is too vague to enforce. Arts Funding . _ SAN ANTONIO — A federal judge has ruled the city acted unconstitutionally in withhold- ing $62,000 from a cultural arts group that sponsored a gay and lesbian film festival and‘ other events. F In an 85-page decision, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia said the city’s 1997 decision punished the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center for exercis- ing its right to free speech. “We have triumphed today in the belly of the beast,” Esperanza representatives said in a state- ment. - Attorneys for the nonprofit center argued the city of San Antonio cut off funding because of the group’s view- points and pressure from resi- dents who opposed promoting a gay lifestyle. Mayor Howard Peak said he didn’t think Esperanza quali- fied as an arts organization and the city chose not to give it money because of limited funds. “I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Peak said. “It’s' not an annual entitlement. It’s a competitive allocation with I no guarantees.” Funds for most" arts groups were cut 15 percent- in September 1997, but Esperanza was cut off com- pletely. The group had been receiving money for seven years. Obit-Basker SAN FRANCISCO — The founder of one of the nation’s first gay rights groups has died. Bob Basker was 82. Basker helped found Mattachine Midwest in 1965 to protest Chicago police raids on gay bars and the photographing of patrons for publication in the city’s newspapers. He got his start in activism in the student peace movement in the 1930’s in New York City, where he grew up. Basker lied about his sexual orientation in the l940’s tojoin the Army during World War II and saw combat in Europe. He wrote two books about the lives and struggles of gay men in the 20th century, The Other Side of Silence and Quiet Fire. Lesbian . Ordination LOS ANGELES — The rank- ing Lutheran bishop in south- ern California has been asked to resign for participating in the ordination ofa lesbian. Bishop Paul W. Egertson, whose son is gay, said he has not decided whether to comply with the request, which comes just months. before his term expires Aug. 31.. He was not expected to seek re-election. Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson asked Egertson before the ceremony to recon- sider his participation, said John Brooks, a spokesman for the Chicago-based Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Egertson became the church’s first active bishop to participate in the ordination of a lesbian when he took part in the ceremony for Anita Hill, who is in a relationship with another woman. Hill was made a minister-during an ordination at a church in Minnesota. Egertson’s action was in defiance of church law.