April 12, 2019 | Volume XVI, Issue 23 AIDS WATCH: ‘Strong Interest’ in Hearings on Truvada Patent Profits BY MARK S. KING #PrEP4All contingent that attended AIDS James program, and here Advocates pressuring the Centers for Dis- Watch, an annual event Krellenstein & we have a massive ease Control and Prevention (CDC) to sponsored by AIDS United Nicholas Faust amount of royalties of #PrEP4All at claim royalties from sales of “Truvada as of lobbying between HIV AIDS Watch in left unclaimed.” PrEP” report “strong interest” in congres- advocates and their elected Washington, The controversy sional hearings on the growing controver- congresspeople. “The CDC DC. was first reported in sy, based on visits to the Hill between HIV paid for the development of a front-page story in advocates and their elected officials and Truvada as PrEP and owns the Washington Post on March 26th, staffs. The CDC owns patents to the use of the patents, yet has not col- and has accelerated since then, in- Truvada as PrEP and has been criticized lected a dime from Gilead. cluding in multiple stories in the New for not claiming what could be billions of We, the American taxpayers, York Daily News. dollars in royalties from Gilead, the manu- are entitled to these royal- “The money to fund HIV preven- facturer of Truvada. ties. They could easily fund tion and treatment programs is star- “Senior health policy staffers have our national response to the ing us in the face,” added Nicholas a strong interest in claiming the mon- HIV epidemic. Everyone in Faust, another #PrEP4All advocate. ey the CDC has left on the table,” said DC is scrambling around this “So yes, in meetings with health pol- James Krellenstein, part of the time of year, trying icy staffers today, their eyes were to find money for lighting up. A lot of the HIV advocates their line item or —continued on page 10 Monty Howard, emcee BY RICHARD FINGER Monty Howard is a gay Epis- copalian partnered graphic Meet designer and com- the munity activist. Getting to Monty was born Emcee in California, as know Monty a military brat, Baltimore Pride? Well, the charity of Christ compels me, and moved with Howard, our Monty Howard: Oh yes, folks but I’m also inspired by Dr. Martin Luther his family 29 Pride parade from Bolton Hill and the church King, Jr. and the Kennedys. I’m inspired by times. He’s lived community know me as the “Quiz many great leaders, like Elijah Cummings and worked in emcee Master” for an annual dinner and the Obamas. Virginia, Min- fund-raiser we used to hold at Me- Tell us about some of the volunteer nesota, Texas, morial. And I have been the emcee work you’ve done. and Delaware for Festival on the Hill many times Through the years I’ve been a men- before coming to Balti- over the years. tor to several kids coming out. They need more and feeling “right at How were you selected to become support at that time in their lives, as we home” from the start. We our emcee? all know. And I’ve assisted in representing asked Monty a few ques- Funny story: In the process of nomi- the church at several Pride festivals in the tions about his gig as nating someone else via posting on Face- park. But this is the biggest volunteer job Baltimore Pride Parade book, a commenter pointed out that I would I’ve ever undertaken for Baltimore! emcee… be perfect, and I had to agree! My nominee What are your hopes for Pride this Richard Finger: was not available. So, I threw my hat in year? Have you been an em- the ring. I want a huge peaceful crowd of hap- cee at events prior to Who or what inspires you? —continued on page 3 Co-Publishers Jim Becker • Jim Williams [email protected] Executive Editor Jim Becker [email protected] [email protected] Associate Editor & Director of Marketing & Production Mary Taylor [email protected] Arts and Entertainment Editor Frankie Kujawa [email protected] Leather Editor Rodney Burger [email protected] Contributing Writers for Baltimore OUTloud Andre Shakti • Bill Redmond-Palmer Brynn Devereau • Charles Dudley, MPT Chuck Duncan • David Egan David Placher • Dr. Eva Hersh MD Elyse Buchbinder • Frankie Kujawa Gregg Shapiro • Jabari Lyles Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. • Jeffrey Clagett Josh Buchbinder • Lauren Lynch • Lee Carpenter Linda A. Dominguez, Esq. • Mark S. King Mark Segal • Michael Ritmiller Rabbi Jan Dodi • Richard Finger • Rodney Burger Sage Piper • Steve Charing • Woody Derrick Contributing Writers for OUT in the VALLEY Asher Kennedy • Brian George Hose Rev. Kelly Crenshaw • Rev. Robert Apgar-Taylor Zed Sykes Graphics Ramon Montiel Web Editor Adam Romanik Computer Solutions for Less Photographers Corey Brent Eric Randolph National Advertising Rep Rivendell Media 908-232-2021 Founders Jim Becker • Joe Berg • Mike Chase Lee Mooney (1959-2007) • Jim Williams Baltimore OUTloud PO Box 4887 Baltimore, MD 21211 410-802-1310 Baltimoreoutloud.com Additional Information Baltimore OUTloud is published every other Friday by Pride Media, Ltd. in Baltimore, Maryland. Readers comments and unsolicited materials are welcomed and may be sent to: [email protected]. All materials appearing in this newspaper are the property of Pride Media, Ltd. and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the editor. The opinions expressed in Baltimore OUTloud are solely those of the writers unless otherwise indicated and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Media, Ltd., and the staff. © 2019 – All rights reserved Chair of the Board of Trustees – Jim Becker President – Jim Williams Secretary and Treasurer – Mike Chase 2 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD april 12, 2019 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM NEWS // local Meet the Emcee —continued from page 1 When I was younger, I didn’t participate py people, of all ages, gay and straight, in Pride because I was raised with love and of all ethnicities and backgrounds, to feel the idea that sex is nothing to be “ashamed the love that these of” or “proud of.” But events celebrate! Monty Howard has these are troubling What does suc- times when hate cess look like for nightmares of having groups are feeling you as an emcee to introduce people empowered by DC for Pride? and it’s important Am hoping I with names like – essential – that don’t stumble over we are all seen and any names or mis- ‘Muileann Dhaibahidh,’ heard, as the great pronounce anything, ‘Achluachrach big peaceful voting LOL! There was an block that we are! announcer at the Szczecin,’ or ‘Bydgoszcz Education is the key. MLK parade one Love always wins! t year who couldn’t Czƒôstochowa.’ Having connec- say Episcopalian! tions with many of But I’m pretty articulate. Baltimore’s groups and institutions, Monty What is one message you’d like to will call upon representatives from wide- express to our readers? ly varying entities to engage in Baltimore Pride 2019. 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Program BALTIMORE OUTLOUD april 12, 2019 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM t 3 Select Chase Brexton Health Care patients deemed most in need may be eligible for digital breast cancer screenings through a mobile mammography van to be located at the Chase Brexton Mount Vernon Center on September 28th. The screenings are provided in partnership with Lackawan- na Mobile X-Ray and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Breast can- cer is the second most common cancer in women, and mammograms are capable of finding it up to three years before it can be felt. The Center for Disease Control recommends mammograms every two years for women age 50 and older who are at average risk for breast cancer. The staff of Chase Brexton encour- ages their patients to remember that ear- ly detection saves lives! Any patient who feels they may quality should contact their Chase Brexton provider or call 410-837- 2050 for more info. t BEYOND THE BEltwAY compiled by Jim Becker ment from poor communities of color, and impunity for an ever more militarized police Intersex activist Department of force.” (Seattle Gay News – Mike Andrew Lesbian wins at Sgn.org/sgnnews47_14/page1.cfm) gives keynote at Justice Pride mayoral election Louisiana queer group hears in Chicago US House confab from the AG Chicago – Chicago elected its first Af- condemns Baton Rouge – Chicago-based inter- Washington, DC – DOJ Pride, a group rican-American woman and first out lesbi- sex activist Pidgeon Pagonis will be key- representing the Department of Justice’s an mayor on April 2nd. Lori Lightfoot cam- Trump’s Trans note speaker for the ninth annual Louisiana LGBT employees and contractors, has paigned against the machine politics that Queer Conference during the weekend of delivered a letter to US Attorney General have dominated Chicago since the days of military ban March 30th at Louisiana State University in William Barr about the “declining morale” Richard Daley and won a resounding victo- Baton Rouge, Louisiana.