The Center

THE CENTER L.A. GAY & LESBIAN COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER March 25, 1996 Patricia Fleming Office of National AIDS Policy Executive Office of the President 750 17th St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20503 Dear Ms. Fleming: The White House Office of AIDS Policy is to be commended for undertaking its recent report, "Youth and HIV/AIDS: An American Agenda." As the report documents, the infection rate among youth can be lowered only by specifically addressing young people in prevention programs and HIV educational materials. And, as the report recommends, the voices of youth must be heard in planning and advisory councils for government agen- cies fighting AIDS and/or caring for those infected. Given, however, that 63% of all AIDS cases among young men (CDC statistics) are the result of unsafe sex with another man, and the report's acknowledgement that "homophobia.. in AIDS prevention programs drives away many gay and bisexual adolescents," the absence of any recommendations addressing gay and bisexual youth is unacceptable. As a direct result of the homophobia mentioned in the report, gay, lesbian and bisexual people, especially youth, are often excluded from studies, research and educational materials - especially those funded by the govern- ment. Failing to include gay and bisexual youth in the report's eleven recommendations ignores those most affected and does nothing to address the homophobia in the development and implementation of government HIV-prevention programs. We appreciate the White House's interest in caring for youth with AIDS and lowering the infection rate. The text of the report is another example of how President Clinton continues to distinguish himself as the most empathetic and action-oriented President in history on HIV/AIDS and gay and lesbian issues. However, one of the results we all work so hard for lowering the HIV infection rate - is very unlikely to be achieved with government recommendations that are silent on gay and bisexual youth and homophobia. Therefore, we strongly urge the immediate addition of the following recommendation: "All programs, in an effort to provide HIV services for youth, should acknowledge, support and be responsive to the needs and lives of young gay and bisexual men. Government institutions, schools, and other entities engag- ing in HIV prevention, testing and treatment efforts should include specific strategies for combatting homophobia and its impact on the health, welfare and self-image of young gay and bisexual men. "Where young people are involved in the design and development of marketing and the provision of HIV preven- tion and treatment services, gay and bisexual youth, including gay/bisexual youth of color, should participate in the process in numbers that reflect the incidence of infection in the targetted population." Finally, it has come to our attention that some people within the Administration are characterizing the concerns raised in this letter as those of only one organization. This attempt to trivialize these very important concerns is distressing. More importantly, however, it is patently inaccurate. The undersigned organizations are just a few of the many youth and AIDS service organizations very concerned about the above-described silence in the report's recommendations. 1625 North Schrader Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90028-9998 Phone: 213 993 7400 Fax: 213 993 7699 TDD: 213 993 7698