BUSH AND GAYS

Some interesting developments. First, there’s a strong and immediate response to the idea that the AIDS office would be closed. Bush himself said that AIDS was a priority for his administration. We’ll see, of course. Then the Bush administration continues the Clinton policy of not pursuing sanctions against some Third World countries manufacturing generic anti-HIV meds to combat a public health emergency. To be honest, I haven’t come to a real conclusion as to what is the best compromise between keeping the financial incentives for AIDS research, while dealing with what is clearly an immediate and growing global AIDS crisis. But the Clinton-Bush compromise doesn’t seem to me to be obviously misguided – and their motives are clearly compassionate. Finally, John Ashcroft met yesterday with Log Cabin Republicans. I have to say I find this to be moving news. I’m not going to roll over and love the new AG. How could I? But his willingness to meet with LCR was welcome, constructive and good. Those left-wing critics who argued that any gay support for Bush was tantamount to Jewish support for the Nazis have so far been proven, as usual, wrong. A dialogue has begun. We need to keep it going.