Four gay political groups gave a thumbs up to Norman Siegel, who is running for New York City Public Advocate.
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Friday, September 02, 2005
Norman Siegel’s candidacy for New York City Public Advocate got a boost
from some major gay political clubs this past week. On Aug. 29, four different
political clubs endorsed Siegel, who is involved with same-sex marriage cases
here in New York. “Norman has long been an advocate for the rights of
the LGBT community,” said Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal
Democratic Club. “He is fighting for same-sex marriages and continuing
to push for non-discrimination laws for members of the LGBT community. Norman
is a fierce civil rights leader, and both the LGBT community and New York City
deserve a strong, effective Public Advocate. Norman fits the bill, and we strongly
urge all LGBT New Yorkers to come out on primary day for him.” Doug Robertson,
co-president of the Out People of Color Political Action Club, echoed Roskoff’s
thoughts, calling Siegel a “powerful advocate for us.” The Stonewall
Democratic Club and Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn also gave their
support to Siegel who is trying to unseat incumbent Betsy Gotbaum.
Two former immigration detainees held in the Passaic County Jail in New Jersey
are accusing jail officials of denying them adequate treatment for AIDS. The
Herald News reported that the two men allege that inadequate and inconsistent
care left them sicker than when they arrived, jail personnel were hostile toward
their lawyers, and their medical privacy was ignored. “You are asking
for help, you’re sick, and you’re being totally ignored,”
said one of the men. “Since I got out of there, I try as much as possible
to erase the experience from my mind.” Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale
said he has not heard of the complaints, but he voiced full support of Warden
Charles Meyers and the medical staff. “This two people you’re talking
to me about, two people out of 1,700,” he said. “I think I’m
doing pretty good.” These charges come when there is a tense relationship
between the jail and federal investigators. The Passaic County Jail is one of
five facilities across the country under review by the Department of Homeland
Security’s Office of the Inspector General. Sheriff Speziale was scheduled
to meet with federal immigration officials in Washington D.C. on Aug. 23. The
two men were held at different times and have both been released.
On Aug. 28 at Luke & Leroy, located in Greenwich Village, there was a fundraiser
for the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is meant to honor
the Brooklyn 19-year-old whose body was partially discovered at a Bedford-Stuyvesant
subway station this winter. A few days later, his torso was discovered in Greenpoint.
The rest of his body remains unaccounted for and no suspect has yet been arrested
for the crime. “We had about 100 and 150 people in the course of the night,”
said Mervyn Marcano, a board member of the fund. “His mother was there
as well as other members of the family.” Over $2,500 was raised from door
proceeds. “Lots of people came out to support it and heard about it through
word of mouth and the blogging and Internet communities,” Marcano said.
The money will support a scholarship for a college bound New York City student
who is to fighting against racism, sexism, and homophobia. To find out more
about the scholarship go to www.rashawnbrazell.com.
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A group of 50 AIDS activists hit midtown Manhattan on
Aug. 31, lining up outside of the Ugandan Permanent Mission to the United
Nations in an effort to bring attention to Uganda’s condom shortage.
The protestors say the country’s shortfall is putting its people at
risk of HIV infection. The Ministry of Health denied the condom shortage
exists.
(Photo courtesy ACT UP New York)
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