Swine flu guidelines for people with HIV released by CDC

The CDC on Thursday issued “interim guidance” for clinicians treating patients with swine flu who are also HIV-positive.

The full publication is available here.

The document notes that people with compromised immune systems, including people with HIV, are more at risk for seasonal flu, and thus are more likely to be at risk for H1N1, or swine-origin, flu as well.

There are insufficient data available at this point to determine who is at higher risk for complications of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. However, adults and adolescents with HIV infection, especially persons with low CD4 cell counts, are known to be at higher risk for viral and bacterial lower respiratory tract infections and for recurrent pneumonias.

Evidence that influenza can be more severe for HIV-infected adults and adolescents comes from studies among HIV-infected persons who had seasonal influenza; these data are limited. However, several studies have reported higher hospitalization rates, prolonged illness and increased mortality, especially among persons with AIDS. Thus, immune compromised persons, including HIV-infected adults and adolescents and especially persons with low CD4 cell counts or AIDS can experience more severe complications of seasonal influenza and it is possible that HIV-infected adults and adolescents are also at higher risk for swine-origin influenza complications.

People with HIV who contract swine flu should be treated with antiviral medications zanamivir or oseltamivir, the two drugs to which the virus is not resistant. “No adverse effects” have been reported in people with HIV who have received the two flu medications and “there are no known absolute contraindications” for people receiving the drugs when they are also taking antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV, according to the CDC.

People with HIV should take the same precautions as the general population to avoid contracting swine flu: Swine flu guidelines for people with HIV released by CDC
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LGBT leaders offer praise for Obama at 100-day mark

President Barack Obama and his administration, in their first 100 days, have done a mostly good job of reaching out to LGBT groups and to following through on key parts of the community’s legislative agenda, including hate crimes, LGBT leaders say. “I’ve been in Washington for 20 years, first doing HIV work and then doing LGBT work,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force. “I would say that this administration, in the time that I have been in Washington, has been not only more receptive to the issues facing our community, but also more proactive about issues facing our community.” Washington Blade * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

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Top GOP Consultant Endorses Gay Marriage

If Steve Schmidt is for same-sex marriage, can Senate Republicans be far behind?
Well, yes. We don’t expect establishment Republicans in Washington — or establishment Democrats, for that matter — to suddenly endorse gay marriage. But in a possible sign of the momentum of the gay-marriage movement, Mr. Schmidt, who was a senior adviser to the Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain, last year, is promoting gay marriage this afternoon.
He endorsed same-sex marriage last month, in an interview with the Washington Blade.
Today, Mr. Schmidt, who also served as a top Bush aide, discusses the subject with the Log Cabin Republicans, a group that supports gay rights. According to CNN, he will call on conservative Republicans to drop their opposition at a lunchtime speech in Washington.
Mr. Schmidt, who has a sister who is a lesbian See Top GOP Consultant Endorses Gay Marriage
New York Times * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

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House bill offers DP benefits for federal workers

Out U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., this month is expected to introduce the Domestic Partner Benefits & Obligations Act, which would offer domestic-partner benefits to the same-sex partners of federal workers. The measure will be co-sponsored in the House by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and in the Senate by Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, both of whom backed a similar bill in the previous session, said Baldwin spokeswoman Jerilyn Goodman. Washington Blade* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

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Award-winning journalist Kevin Naff to direct both Genre Magazine and Washington Blade’s editorial vision

NEW YORK — Genre Magazine, a division of Window Media LLC, the nation’s largest gay publishing group, today announced the appointment of veteran LGBT journalist Kevin Naff as Editor-in-Chief of Genre Magazine. He will be responsible for the day-to-day operations and strategic planning for the magazine, while continuing his post as Editor of Washington Blade — the nation’s oldest, largest and most respected gay newspaper — celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009. The announcement was made today by William Kapfer, Genre Publisher and Window Media Co-President.
Naff joins Genre after more than six years with the Washington Blade, including nearly three as editor, where he has overseen a senior team of editors and reporters responsible for covering some of the country’s most historic political events and its leaders. Naff is an award-winning journalist, columnist and blogger known for his provocative approach to analyzing the news. In addition to recurring guest commentator spots on Sirius/XM satellite radio and National Public Radio (NPR), he has been tapped for national appearances on such shows as Fox News’ “O’Reilly Factor,” CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360″ and CBS’ Logo network.
William Kapfer, Genre Vice President & Publisher and Window Media Co-President, says: “Kevin brings a real passion for LGBT journalism, and an appreciation for the vital role Window Media’s collection of print and digital assets bring to the community. Our readers demand flexibility not just in the content they receive, but also in how that content is delivered. This appointment underscores Genre’s mission to continue to produce the top quality magazine in our category–while continuing to provide readers with easily accessible, fresh, original content across our suite of integrated media channels.”
“I’m excited to join the team at Genre and help build on the magazine’s colorful history,” Naff said. “I look forward to advancing Genre’s mission, while also celebrating this year, the Blade’s 40th year as the nation’s leading LGBT news source.”
Prior to joining the Blade, Naff worked for Reuters as a financial journalist in New York, then spent four years at the Baltimore Sun, launching its web site in 1996. He served as vice president of business development for an online startup and as a private consultant before returning to journalism at the Blade. Naff sits on several boards, including the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association D.C. chapter, Live Baltimore and the Pennsylvania State University gay alumni organization. He lives in Baltimore with his partner of 11 years.* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

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Is sharper rhetoric a desperation move by anti-gay activists?

Some top LGBT advocates believe the tone of anti-gay rhetoric getting sharper, in response to a boost in LGBT support on the national level, while others think conservatives are shifting their tactics to push for more anti-LGBT laws. “The more gains you make and the closer your opponents are to losing, the more ferocious they are in the way in which they lash out. That is just the nature of social change,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. Washington Blade

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Gay Media in Receivership

The investment fund that owns the Washington Blade, the Southern Voice, Genre magazine, and other gay publications has been forced into receivership by the federal Small Business Administration (SBA), which will sell the fund’s assets and distribute the proceeds to investors.

“As a consequence of defendant’s continuing violation… SBA is entitled to the injunctive relief… including the appointment of SBA as receiver of [the Avalon Equity Fund],” the SBA wrote in an August 2008 court filing, which was only recently found by Gay City News.

Avalon, which owns a stake in the company that publishes the New York Blade and HX, was licensed by the SBA as a small business investment company (SBIC) in 2000. Through 2007, it borrowed just over $38 million from the federal agency to invest in gay media properties and a range of other ventures.

As part of its contract with the SBA, Avalon was required to have private money or assets in the fund from sources, such as individual investors, that had a value equal to half the amount it borrowed from the SBA or just over $19 million. See Gay Media in Receivership
Gay City News

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Lesbian picked for White House associate counsel job

Alison Nathan, an out fellow at New York University’s law school and a visiting assistant professor at Fordham’s law school, was named one of President Barack Obama’s associate counsels. Nathan, during Obama’s White House campaign, served as a national voter protection senior adviser and as a member of his LGBT advisory committee. Washington Blade

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Hochberg expected to become first out chair of Export-Import Bank

Fred Hochberg, the out former head of the Small Business Administration, reportedly will be named by the White House as the first openly gay chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. “Fred Hochberg’s talent and business acumen will serve U.S. companies well. But he will also set an important example as an openly gay person in a top leadership position in the business community,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. Washington Blade

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Obama’s Cabinet apparently won’t have LGBT representation

Out LGBT candidates have been shut out of President-elect Barack Obama’s Cabinet, with the final spot of labor secretary reportedly being offered to U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif. Mary Beth Maxwell, the out founding executive director for American Rights at Work, was said to be among the contenders for the labor post. “As we talk about either keeping or renewing America’s promise, which the president-elect has been talking about, apparently it does not yet extend to gay and lesbian people in the Cabinet of the president,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of The Victory Fund. Washington Blade