Gay Man Sues Skinhead Attackers
Lambda Legal Defense and Education
Fund joined other lawyers and gay commu-
nity groups in announcing the filing of a
unprecedented $20 million suit against
members of a Skinhead gang alleged to
thave brutally beaten Rodney Johnson of
‘ Washington, DC solely because he is gay.
I" The suit, thought to be the first in the
3 country against members of the Skinheads,
I alleges violation of J ohnson’s federal civil
1 rights as well as assault and battery. The
‘case, filed on September 15, 1989, marks
the first time a victim of anti-gay violence
has sued members of an organized hate
lgroup for civil damages.
According to a NGLIF report on anti-
gay violence in 1988, “Skinhead attacks
were by far the most numerous and brutal of
kill [anti—gay] hate group incidents docu-
mented.” Even though some Skinhead fac-
‘ ytions purport not to be racist, the hate the
, lgroups thrive on is aimed at several minor-
, iity groups. By far, the most clear and
‘common link between all these factions,
, INGLTF reports, is their fervent hatred of
[ ‘lesbians and gay men.

. Howard Forced to End Discrimination
. 'Ihe Whitrnan—Walker Clinic, Inc. and
lambda Legal Defense and Education
Fund announced a settlement of a lawsuit
f tagainst Washington, D.C.’s Howard Uni-
g lversity Hospital (“Howard”) for discrimi-
,, nation against AIDS patients. As aresult of
5 llhe settlement, Howard has agreed to adopt
,_ ,ahospital-wide policy permitting persons
g with AIDS or HIV infection to be treated on
d «all wards in all rooms of the hospital. Pre-
[ ~viously, patients with AIDS and HIV dis-
lease were refused admission to certain
,1 wards of the hospital, including the
,, pyschiatric ward, and were treated only in

Isolation, in private rooms, or in rooms with ,

other patients with HIV disease.

1 Howard has also agreed to follow
‘federally-recommended “universal pre-
yltautions.” These procedures call for
treating all patients as potentially infected

 

 

with HIV, rather than singling out HIV
patients and treating them differently. The
federal government and all public health
experts recommend this approach to pre-
vent the transmission of HIV in the hospital
setting.

Dignity/USA to Provide Catholic Lead-
ership

Pat Roche, who became President of
Dignity/U SA recently, named AIDS minis-
try as the leading item on a five-point
agenda for the national lesbian and gay
Catholic movement over the next two years.
“AIDS ministry will absolutely be this
organization’s number one priority,” said
Roche. “Through a new program, the Na-
tional AIDS Project of Dignity, we will
provide leadership and education to fill the
void left by the Catholic Church’s often-
times inadequate efforts to minister to
people with AIDS and those who are HIV-
positive.”

“We extend a special invitation to
women, to divorced Catholics, and to other
disaffected Catholics who feel alienated
from the Church to support us on this proj-
ect and work with us on other crucial issues
of mutual concern.”

For a list of chapters or for more infor-
mation, please write to: Dignity/USA, 1500
Massachusetts Ave, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20005

or call (202)861-0017.

   

Partners in Recovery and Growth, Therapist
Erica Marks, B.A.S.A.C.

Substance Abuse, Sexuality, Parenting, Grief, Gestalt, Spirituality,
Individuals, Couples, Families, Groups
Hearthstone Assoc.

182 Main St.
Burlington, VT 05401
Sliding fee scale° Phone: 865-2403

  

 
    
    
     
   
 

 

 

November 1989
; //7

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