Action Alert via AIDS Project Los Angeles
Greetings,
On May 24, President Bush nominated Dr. James Holsinger to serve as 18th Surgeon General of the United States. As America's chief health educator, the Surgeon General must be devoted to helping all Americans lead healthy lives and must be committed to science. Among the stated duties of the post is to provide leadership in promoting health initiatives such as HIV prevention efforts.
In the past, Dr. Holsinger has exhibited a prejudice against homosexual men. His efforts to put a scientific veneer on his prejudices (as evidenced in a 1991 paper http://ga0.org/ct/p7aXO9p1k4hG/ for the United Methodist Church) call into serious question his ability to advocate for sensible HIV care and prevention education.
His nomination must be approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) before the nomination is sent to the entire Senate for confirmation. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) serves as the Chair and Senator Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) is the Ranking Member of the Committee. Although no hearing date has been set yet, it's vital that we educate our senators as soon as possible.
Please tell your senator to voice opposition to Holsinger's nomination. It's quick and easy using APLA's In The Loop!
http://ga0.org/campaign/holsinger/geb8kk4136ntnm?
Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Senators
Below is the sample letter:
Subject: Please Oppose Dr. Holsinger's Nomination As Surgeon General!
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],
As your constituent, I urge you to oppose the nomination of Dr. James Holsinger to the post of Surgeon General.
As the nation's chief health educator, charged with improving the health of all Americans, the U.S. Surgeon General must be committed to science and willing to set aside his political or religious views.
While Dr. Holsinger has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in public health, he has a record of demonstrating extreme prejudice toward homosexuals. Perhaps most disturbing is a 1991 paper he prepared for the United Methodist Church entitled "Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality." In it, Dr. Holsinger expressed medical opinions about the abnormality and health dangers of gay sexual practices.
Dr. Holsinger's biography also includes involvement with the Hope Springs Community Church in Lexington, Kentucky, which has advanced a ministry to "cure" homosexuals, an approach widely discredited by mainstream medical and scientific organiz ations.
Dr. Holsinger's efforts to put a scientific veneer on his prejudices demonstrably compromises his ability to advocate for the better health of all those living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS.If confirmed, he will alienate the AIDS community and further marginalize and stigmatize gay people.
HIV/AIDS is a devastating public health epidemic, heavily impacting both the gay and heterosexual community in this country and worldwide. Evidence-based efforts to stop the HIV epidemic require an unbiased public health agenda.
Now, more than ever, the nation needs a Surgeon General who is able to recommend sound health policy to all Americans, who unites and supports the health and well-being of all Americans.
For these reasons, I urge you to voice your opposition to Dr. Holsinger's nomination.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
http://ga0.org/campaign/holsinger/geb8kk4136ntnm?
Take Action!
Instructions:
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What's At Stake:
In a document titled "Pathophysiology of Male Homosexualityhttp://ga0.org/ct/p7aXO9p1k4hG/," Dr. Holsinger wrote the following statements about the abnormality and health dangers of homosexual sexual practices:
In fact, the logical complementarity of the human sexes has been so recognized in our culture that it has entered our vocabulary in the form of naming various pipe fittings either the male fitting or the female fitting depending upon which one interlocks within the other. When the complementarity of the sexes is breached, injuries and diseases may occur as noted above.
Additionally, Holsinger and his wife were founders of Hope Springs Community Church, which operates a "Men's Sexual Integrityhttp://www.hopespringschurch.com/content.cfm?id=201 " recovery program. The church's website describes the program as "an opportunity for men to heal from sexual brokenness and find strength to overcome unhealthy sexual behaviors." This type of "ex-gay" conversion therapy has been condemned by almost every major, reputable medical organization — including the American Psychological Association, which issue d a condemnation http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/justthefacts.html#2 more than 10 years ago.
A number of advocacy organizations, including AIDS Action http://www.aidsaction.org/ , the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force http://www.thetaskforce.org/ and the Human Rights Campaign http://www.hrc.org/, have voiced opposition to the nomination. Supporting Holsinger are organizations such as Exodus International http://www.exodus.to/ and Americans For The Truth About Homosexuality http://americansfortruth.com/ .
Campaign Expiration Date:
July 15, 2007
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