June 8, 2007

A DISHONOR JUST TO BE NOMINATED

The face of homophobia

Just when you thought Bush had run out of heinous human beings to nominate to high-level positions,he goes and nominates Dr. James Holsinger for surgeon general. This nomination has raised the ire of gay and HIV/AIDS groups because the prospective first doctor of public health suffers from a debilitating disease that he should have cured himself of by now. Yes,Holsinger suffers from a severe case of homophobia.

Lest you think this judgment was made in haste,here is his resume:

Considering that men who have sex with men are one of the groups most at risk for HIV,as well as the stigma of AIDSas a "gay disease," Holsinger's personal "convictions"need to be seriously questioned at the Senate confirmation hearings.

Housing Works President and CEO Charles King said Holsinger's appointment is emblematic of the Bush administration. "Whatever his other qualifications, a doctor who articulates clear prejudice against the LGBT community has no business being surgeon general," King said. "That's exactly what's wrong with much of the administration's AIDS policy: public health is treated like a political bone."

The Housing Works AIDS Issues Update is reported, written and edited by Diana Scholl, David Thorpe, Phil Fox Rose, Christine Campbell, terri smith-caronia and Housing Works staff. Send your feedback, leads and story ideas to d.scholl@housingworks.org.

You can reach us by phone at 212-967-1500 x168, by fax at 212-868-4222, and by email at d.scholl@housingworks.org. Housing Works provides housing, advocacy and services to homeless people living with AIDS and HIV. Housing Works is the nation's largest community-based AIDS organization and the nation's largest minority-controlled AIDS organization.

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