Badpuppy Gay Today

Wednesday, 9 April 1997

With Vice-president Al Gore at his side, President Bill Clinton, on April 7, appointed Sandra L. Thurman, yet a third AIDS Czar to his administration. A former Executive Director of AID Atlanta, Ms. Thurman succeeds Patsy Fleming, who resigned months ago in the midst of criticism that she was ineffective in the post.

As AIDS Atlanta's Executive Director (1988-1993), Ms. Thurman has served as an outspoken AIDS activist for over a decade. She has also been a member of the presidential advisory panel on HIV and AIDS. Most recently, Ms. Thurman was a Clinton appointee to the United States Information Agency with responsibility for professional and cultural exchange programs, until her appointment Monday as the latest director of the Office of National AIDS Policy. Sandra Thurman also remains a board member of AID Atlanta which provides services for people living with HIV disease, as well as case management and information about AIDS prevention.

ACT UP's Steve Michael, upon the announcement of Ms. Thurman's appointment, said, "This is just another bureaucrat who has worked for Clinton and who will do his PR. If the AIDS Czar is going to continue to be a branch of the press office, then we should abolish it." The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), however, praised Ms. Thurman's appointment, calling it "a solid choice to take the Office of National AIDS Policy to the next level." Elizabeth Birch, HRC's Executive Director said, "She brings the right mix of leadership, political skills and commitment to the fight against HIV and AIDS."

President Clinton, in his opening remarks, thanked Eric Goosby, who has been acting director of the office since Patsy Fleming resigned, for his good work. The President reaffirmed his administration's goal to "find a vaccine against the AIDS virus, and a cure for those who have HIV infection."

Clinton went on to say, "AIDS strikes in the best of families, and from this disease no community has immunity. Gay or straight, black or white, male or female, old or young, anyone can get AIDS, and if we're going to win this fight, we must begin with the acceptance of that fact."

The President recounted how, in the first four years of his administration, spending for AIDS increased approximately 60 percent. In fiscal year 1997, he said, "$167 million will go to state AIDS drug assistance programs which provide access to medication including protease inhibitors for low-income individuals with HIV who don't have prescription drug coverage." ACT-UP, continues to push for greater funding than that about which the President boasts and feels that the administration should appoint a truly high-profile politician who would strive for increased funding for research and services to those already afflicted with the AIDS virus.

Sandra Thurman was characterized by the President as "an advocate and catalyst at the state, local and national levels." Ms. Thurman is credited with transforming AID Atlanta, one of the largest and oldest AIDS organizations in the South into, "one of the most successful projects of its kind anywhere in the country," according to the President. Additionally, said the President, "I've worked with her and I can attest she tells it like it is, she speaks the truth unvarnished, she won't hold back in this office. She is passionate. She is committed. She is difficult to say no to."

The President assured that Ms. Thurman would "have the support and the resources she will need," including his personal support to make a success of her new appointment.

Ms. Thurman, in her remarks, said, "We will strive to support culturally-appropriate services and prevention messages to communities of color, to women and to young gay men, where this epidemic is moving the fastest. We will work to counteract the devastating effects that homophobia and that racism continue to have on this epidemic."

The new AIDS Czar concluded her remarks by saying, "We are deeply aware of the responsibility that this administration has to all Americans who are living with HIV and AIDS, and to those all around the world who turn to us for leadership and for hope. That is an awesome responsibility, one which will demand that each of us work together in partnership to end this epidemic."