Donald Hitchcock, former Director of the DNC Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council, has filed suit against Howard Dean and the DNC (Democratic National Committee claiming "discrimination and retaliation on the basis of his sexual orientation."

Hitchcock, as you may remember, was fired from the position shortly after his domestic partner Paul Yandura made public comments criticizing the DNC.

The Lawsuit makes three central claims, all of which seem to have substantial merit.

First, Hitchcock says that he was fired because of comments made by his domestic partner Paul Yandura, and that in doing so his relationship was treated differently than heterosexual employees, who historically have not been held responsible for the actions of a husband or wife. Hitchcock backs this up with specific examples of heterosexual employees who were not held to the standard he says was applied to him.

Second, Hitchcock claims that LGBT employees including himself, were paid less than their heterosexual counterparts for equal jobs with equal responsibilites. Hitchcock backs this up with two specific examples of LGBT employees being paid less than their heterosexual counterparts.

Third, Hitchcock claims that in order to justify his unjustifiable firing to fellow DNC staff members, that the leadership of the DNC spread false rumors about the reason he was fired including completely fabricated charges that he made racist comments in the workplace. Hitchcock has as evidence of this DNC staff members who were told these false rumors which damaged reputation.

All in all, the facts of the case as laid out carefully in the lawsuit are compelling.

Hitchcock wrote earlier tonight on Americablog: "I expect my party to embody the Democratic values of fairness and honesty. It is important that the DNC be able to acknowledge its failings and live up to its promise to protect the human rights of the LGBT community as we move forward. To help attain this goal, I cannot remain silent on matters of policy and substance."

Friday, May 18, 2007 is a significant day in the HIV/AIDS research community-- HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. This is the tenth year of observance and here in Washington, DC it presents an excellent opportunity for scientists who have been searching for a preventive vaccine for HIV and trial participants to become humanized; the faceless lab coat clad research scientist and the individual whose life has been affected by HIV have an opportunity to publicly meet each other and express mutual gratitude for each other’s contribution - as researcher and research subject.

Clinical trials take us closer to identifying an effective vaccine as well as energize our collective hope for an end to the epidemic. To date approximately 25,000 HIV-negative individuals have participated in HIV vaccine trials sponsored by both government and privately owned companies.

As the search for a HIV vaccine continues, the Capital Area Vaccine Effort (CAVE) in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health/Vaccine Research Center (NIH/VRC), and the US Military HIV Research Program will be using Friday May 18 to thank HIV trial participants for their valiant effort and determination, despite the stigma of HIV, in participating in the clinical trials. May 18 also provides a chance for HIV trial participants to publicly thank research facilities, other volunteers, health professionals and scientists who are conducting and participating in HIV vaccine research.

One of the activities planned for HIV Vaccine Awareness Day 2007 is a luncheon/discussion to be held at Academy for Educational Development located at 1825 Connecticut Ave, NW. The topic of the discussion is “Global Health and the Search for an HIV Vaccine” and will begin at 1:00 PM. Join us as we discuss local HIV vaccine research efforts and the role this plays in the larger global health research and treatment movement.

The HIV Vaccine Awareness Day Reception scheduled for Friday May 18 at 6:30 pm is another activity being hosted at the Academy for Educational Development at 1825 Connecticut Ave, NW. This is the event at which all of our local HIV vaccine trial participants will be honored and the work being done locally to find an HIV Vaccine will be recognized.

The Capital Area Vaccine Effort (CAVE) will present two awards at the reception honoring one organization, and one individual for their support of HIV Vaccine Research in the District. The organizational award will go to the 19th Street Baptist Church. The individual award will go to Scott Simpson, a former CAVE chair.

These activities are designed to educate communities about preventive HIV vaccine research while helping to dispel myths, rumors and misinformation. Equally, through community activities like these others are encouraged to be supportive of those individuals involved in HIV vaccine research.

In an effort to broaden the community’s discussion on HIV/AIDS and the impact this disease continues to have the Washington DC Community the will be community speak out the day before HIV Awareness Day on Thursday, May 17 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 401 I St., S.W. May 18, 2007 is a special day, it a day to be used to intensify the education of our communities about the efforts to find a preventive HIV vaccine. Let us collectively rise to this challenge.

ABOUT THE CAPITAL AREA VACCINE EFFORT

Capital Area Vaccine Effort is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by AIDS. For more information visit www.aidsvaccine.org.

If you are interested in contributing to HIV research, and in particular in research looking at new prevention options for people who have receptive anal sex, there's a short-term offer from AmfAR (the American Foundation for AIDS Research) you should know about. AmfAR will match dollar-for-dollar any contribution made to its current fundraising appeal that involves a trek through the Namibian desert (trekkers cover all their own personal costs).

If you sponsor Rowena Johnson, and cite the Rectal Microbicides Working Group (or IRMWG for short) as your organisational affiliation, your contribution plus a matched amount from AmfAR will be earmarked for rectal research. (Please note amounts are in US dollars, and no amount is too small!). Got to www.irmwg.org and click on the link to donate.Dollar-matched offer ends May 20.