VOLUME SIX, NO. 8—April 15, 1993—April 28, 1993 FREE Give the People Light and they will find their own way. The Wisconsin Light Nelson: MAP Not At Fault For No Unrelated People Not Protected Cryptosporidiosis Report To City Against Housing Discrimination [Milwaukee]- Milwaukee AIDS Project News Analysis by John Quinlan (MAP) Executive Director Doug Nelson, [Madison]- In a highly controversial expressed strong disagreement with THE 1993 MARCH ON WASHINGTON ruling on April 13, the Wisconsin Milwaukee Commissioner of Health Paul Supreme Court held in a 4-3 decision that Nannis's suggestion that MAP had failed unmarried people do not have the same to submit data on Cryptosporidiosis protections as married people from among AIDS patients to the Milwaukee housing discrimination. A "very wide Health Department in a timely manner. loophole" in the law has been created, Nelson's strong statement was made civil rights leaders fear, that may be used during a long and intense week of MAP against Gay men and Lesbians — and a involvement with Milwaukee's water wide range of other people who don't live contamination crisis. in a household where everyone is legally "Nannis is subtly suggesting that related to each other — by Wisconsin earlier information from MAP would have landlords who wish to discriminate altered the scope of Milwaukee's water against them. crisis and," Nelson declared, "nothing Protecting unmarried people from could be further from the truth." discrimination "is inconsistent with the The issue has been widely reported in public policy of this state which seeks to the local news media and recently promote the stability of marriage and resulted in a Milwaukee Sentinel editorial family," wrote Justice Donald Steinmetz that was sharply critical of the situation. in the majority opinion. Expanding upon "The editorial was highly inaccurate that reasoning, a conservative majority on and drew false conclusions that are the court declared that unmarried terribly misleading," Nelson said. cohabitants who sought protection from MAP Reports the Facts housing discrimination under a Dane Nelson explained that the MAP data on County law could, in fact, be Cryptosporidiosis came from its discriminated against. involvement in a national clinical drug Following the majority's logic, one of trial network and reflected physician- the implications of the decision could be reported cases of enrolled HIV patients that while individuals might be protected who had been diagnosed with the under the law, Gay and Lesbian couples parasite. The data was compiled over a might not be protected from two and one half year period and revealed discrimination. The decision, which is 15 cases in Milwaukee. based on a challenge to sections of Dane County's Fair Housing Ordinance, also "Because Cryptosporidiosis is a Milwaukee's Water Crisis Having calls into question common illness throughout the country a local government's among people with AIDS, there is nothing right to pass discrimination laws that are Serious Impact On People With HIV stronger of the about the 15 cases in Milwaukee over a than those state. [Milwaukee]- In response to which was conducted 'on Monday and strongly worded dissent, two and one half year period that would In a Chief Milwaukee's water crisis, the Milwaukee Tuesday, April 12 and 13, found that 35% Justice Nathan Heffernan had harsh lead any of our participating physicians or AIDS Project (MAP) conducted an of the clients had seen their physician words for his colleagues who were in staff to conclude that this data the emergency survey of all 700 of MAP's about their symptoms within the past majority. conclude represented a public health "I that today's threat," clients. MAP has reported that nearly one three weeks. On average, clients reported Nelson said. holding misconstrues existing law and, half, 48% , have had significant and experiencing symptoms for at least 7 without legislative sanction, unwisely "There would be no statistical basis severe symptoms of the intestinal illness da s. engages in... moralizing from the for such a conclusion," Nelson added. that has been rampant throughout bench," he wrote. Heffernan was joined Nelson explained that people with AIDS Milwaukee. in his dissent by Justices Shirley commonly acquire parasitic, bacterial "Milwaukee's water crisis is having a Abrahamson and William Bablitch. and viral infections at a much higher rate devastating impact on people with HIV State Rep. Tammy Baldwin due to their weakened immune system and we are terribly concerned about the (D-Madison) told the than individuals with healthy immune Light that she finds continuing harmful effects on our clients the majority's systems. reasoning about a as the next few weeks go by and the perceived threat to the stability of Nelson said that because of these incubation period for Cryptosporidium so-called traditional families to be absurd. higher rates of infection, it is entirely runs its course," said Doug Nelson, "Nothing about renting to cohabitants inappropriate to conclude that a broader MAP's Executive Director. undermines families or marriage," she environmental threat to the public health Nelson added, "Almost all of our said. "Recognizing that families exist in exists. clients with symptoms report having a wide variety of forms — including "More importantly, we (MAP) did not severe conditions of diarrhea and Lesbian and Gay families — does nothing retrieve this data from the national data cramping which are often combined with to infringe upon or weaken the institution base until the City announced that fever, dehydration, vomiting, muscle of marriage." Milwaukee had a water contamination aches and weight loss." Baldwin noted that, in addition to Gay TURN TO WATER, PAGE 15 Nelson reported that the MAP survey men and Lesbians, the ruling could also Doug Nelson affect students, people who need to live with unrelated roommates in order to save Wisconsin Light Madison's Baldwin and Wagner As went to press, 12 of money, people who need to live with MAP's clients were hospitalized with attendants, and a wide variety of others. severe diarrhea and dehydration. Ironically, she noted, many of her fellow Receive National Honors in D.C. Nelson also reported past To that over the legislators who share housing with each [Washington, D.C.]- Wisconsin's State Lesbian Elected Officials since her week, three of MAP's clients had passed other while in Madison — conservative Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Dane County election as a Dane County supervisor in away, exhibiting severe conditions of and liberal alike — could also be denied Supervisor R. Richard Wagner are among 1986, was elected as Wisconsin's first diarrhea and dehydration which are housing if the ruling stands. With all of the history-making openly Lesbian or Gay openly Lesbian or Gay legislator last similar to the symptomology of this in mind, Baldwin believes that state officials who will be honored at a special November. Wagner, a past chair of the Cryptosporidiosis, although an official legislation remedying the situation would luncheon during the weekend of the Dane County Board who has served as a diagnosis had not been made. receive broad bi-partisan support. "1-Tom the beginning of this crisis, I March on Washington. Top Clinton supervisor for more than a decade, The case before the court involved a have said that the AIDS community is at campaign advisor James Carville will be "came out" as one of the nation's first Sun Prairie landlord accused of violating risk for the greatest amount harm and the featured speaker at the April 25 event openly Gay elected officials in the early of Dane County's Fair Housing Ordinance, our worst fears to be coming at Washington's Capital Hilton, which is 1980's and has also been an important seem true," which contains language offering Nelson sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Victory leader in the network. Both Baldwin and said. protections from discrimination based on Fund. Wagner have achieved national Operation Helping Hand a person's "marital status." "The events of these past few months recognition for their pioneering work for In response, MAP has begun a special The case began when two groups of have only magnified the importance of Gay and Lesbian rights. initiative called Operation Helping Hand people had attempted to rent two having our own represent us," said Madison Aldermen and community which is providing extra ordinary service three-bedroom apartments from landlord Victory Fund Executive Director William activist Ricardo Gonzalez, the nation's to MAP clients who are ill with Dwight Norman. Three single women Waybourn. first openly Lesbian or Gay official of Cryptosporidia infection. wished to rent one unit, and two unrelated Baldwin and Wagner will be in Hispanic descent, had also been "The MAP Food Pantry has become women and the two children of one of the extremely distinguised company. The scheduled to be honored, but is unable to the hub of clean water distribution. Over women wished to rent another unit. event, which Waybourn describes as "a attend. the past few days we have distributed Norman told the women that he would recognition of firsts for our community," While in Washington, Baldwin will also more than 4,000 bottles of clean water to rent to them individually, but that he had will also honor Congressmen Barney be a reader at the display of the people with HIV and AIDS," Nelson said. a policy that he "would not rent to groups Frank and Gerry Studds, HUD Assistant Names Project Quilt. "As one of a small, "This wouldn't be possible without the of unrelated individuals." Secretary Roberta Achtenberg, Top noble band of openly Lesbian and Gay quick response of Miller Brewing When the women took Norman to court, Clinton Advisor Bob Hattoy, and state officials in America, your presence during Company which, once again, is coming a Dane County judge initially ruled that legislators, school board members, city this ceremony will be historic indeed," through for us when we need them," there was not probable cause to believe and county officials, and appointed wrote David Perry from the Names Nelson said.