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Bush Appoints AIDS Policy Director:
Log Cabin's Scott Evertz

Administration's AIDS Budget is Neglectful on Domestic Front

Elizabeth Toledo: 'Historic, Positive Step; but Only a First Step'

Compiled By GayToday

Scott Evertz, an openly gay Wisconsin resident, was named director of the Office of National AIDS Policy

Washington, D.C.--George W. Bush named openly gay Wisconsin resident Scott H. Evertz yesterday as director of the Office of National AIDS Policy. The appointment marks the first time that any Republican White House has named an openly gay or lesbian person to an Executive Branch position.

"We are ready, willing and able to meet with Evertz to discuss how we can work together to increase funding for HIV/AIDS and to pursue policies that will strengthen our fight against the disease," said National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Elizabeth Toledo.

"In appointing Evertz to this critical position, George W. Bush has recognized Evertz' skill as a leader of gay Republicans and has shown respect for the 20 years of leadership that the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community has demonstrated in fighting HIV and AIDS worldwide."

Toledo notes that Bush's proposed budget, also made public Monday, significantly boosts spending for international HIV/AIDS efforts and for research into a vaccine for preventing HIV but that his budgetary proposals for AIDS treatments and for prescription drugs for that significant number of AIDS patients receiving Medicare payments are disappointing.

Under the Bush budget proposal, funding for the Ryan White Care Act would remain the same as for the current year--in effect, a decrease, given cost-of-living increases and inflationary expenses such as the increased price of prescription drugs.

And funding for a federal program that addresses people with HIV/AIDS within minority communities would increase just 1 percent --again, actually a decrease when cost of living and inflation are considered.

Moreover, the Bush budget fails to recognize the increase in HIV/AIDS caseloads due in part to the fact that people with HIV and AIDS are living longer.

"The appointment of Scott Evertz is an historic, positive step but it is only a first step," Toledo said.

"Unless we can secure funding for HIV and AIDS in the federal budget, people will be irreparably harmed. Policy flows from the appropriation of dollars, and unfortunately, it will be conservative politicians such as Trent Lott and Tom DeLay who will help determine the future of HIV and AIDS appropriations."

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:

Bush Appears to be Downsizing HIV/AIDS Efforts

Large HIV Funding Cutbacks in Clinics & Hospitals

AIDS is World War III

Related Sites:
NGLTF: Bush-o-Meter

White House: Office of National AIDS Policy

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Evertz' appointment means that the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Bush-O-Meter, which since January has measured the number of openly GLBT White House appointees, is no longer stuck on zero.

Bush's predecessor in the White House, Bill Clinton, named more than 150 openly gay or lesbian people to his administration

Rich Tafel, director of the Log Cabin Republicans said:

"We are very proud of Scott Evertz and the leadership he has shown for years to people with HIV/AIDS and for his willingness to accept the challenge of a crucial position at this important moment. The President has chosen an excellent advisor and advocate for sound AIDS policy. We look forward to working with him. In this appointment, President Bush has reaffirmed his commitment that he will seek out qualified Americans from all walks of life, including gay and lesbian Americans, to serve in his Administration. We are especially proud that one of our own will serve in such an important and high-ranking policy position in the Bush Administration."

National Organizations Responding to AIDS (NORA)-- representing a coalition of 175 organizations-- released the following statement on the Bush AIDS budget proposals:

"While we believe the president's budget does not recognize the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS crisis, it is the first step in a very long and arduous process. As a broad based coalition of over 175 organizations, we remain dedicated to working with President Bush and Congress - as we have with previous administrations - to ensure that appropriate resources are provided to fight this epidemic in a comprehensive manner through prevention, care and research both domestically and internationally.

"At a time when the HIV/AIDS crisis is ravaging our neighborhoods - particularly in communities of color - failure to provide increases appropriate to the magnitude of the epidemic is unconscionable.

"We will continue to work with Congress on strengthening the current bipartisan commitment to providing the necessary resources to support a comprehensive national response to HIV/AIDS.

"The Ryan White CARE Act has been hugely successful in improving the lives of those living with HIV and AIDS in our nation. Not only does flat funding fail to recognize the rising costs of providing care, it ignores the waiting lists of those living with HIV and AIDS that exist in every region of this country.

"The tide of new infections, particularly among young people, must stop. With 40,000 new individuals being infected each year, our nation must dedicate itself to preventing the spread of HIV by providing more than a nominal increase, as proposed by the President"