Opinions
An unequal economic recovery
Many newly created jobs not as good as those lost

The country is still recovering from the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. It is a slow recovery and one that is seeing its ups and downs. We need to face reality that many of the new jobs being created are not as good as the ones that were lost. The wealthy are creating incredible new wealth for themselves but workers are finding their paychecks arenāt growing. Many families are still much worse off than they were before the tax cutting policies of the Bush administration took effect and helped create the recession.
As a proponent of capitalism, I believe those who take the risk and create and compete in building a business are entitled to their success and to make money. But the reason we need government regulation is we have seen entrepreneurial businessmen and women donāt tend to always share their success with their workers. Many feel they are entitled to make as much money as they can and increase their profits by paying their employees as little as they can. That isnāt always the case and we have seen many owners generously share their profits understanding without good and loyal employees they wouldnāt be successful. But unions were formed and workers banded together because unfortunately this was the exception not the rule.
Today there are many employers who still believe paying workers a living wage, or providing minimum benefits such as sick leave and healthcare is something they shouldnāt be required to do. The Republican Party continues to fight any increase in the minimum wage last set at the federal level on July 24, 2009, when it rose from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour, the last step of a three-step increase approved by Congress in 2007. Before that, the minimum wage hadnāt risen in 10 years.
The real facts about the impact of raising the minimum wage for workers can be found in a document put together by the National Employment Law Project. The reality is that under the current minimum wage, a full-time worker would make less than $16,000 a year. As has been suggested by President Obama, members of Congress who believe it shouldnāt be raised should try to live on that. Every legitimate study has shown raising the minimum wage doesnāt hurt employment opportunities, which is the basic claim of those opposed to it.
Many Republicans ā and some who consider themselves libertarian āĀ fight efforts by government to regulate business. They believe any government requirement on business to be fair to their employees is onerous. Many want to exempt small business owners from any regulation saying they provide the most jobs and regulating them in any way will hurt workers in the long run. Although it is true they provide the jobs, what is also true is that most small business owners, not all of course, are no different from large business owners in they tend to pay as little as possible to their employees and try to generate as much profit as possible for themselves. Some would say that is capitalism in its purest form.
Each time a new government regulation is proposed, Republicans shout the āsky is falling.ā Whether it is demanding healthcare, sick leave or raising the minimum wage, they claim this new regulation will force businesses to close and jobs to be lost. Sometimes the opposite happens ā such as when smoking bans were introduced in restaurants across the nation. Some take their anti-regulation mantra to the extreme, such as Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who questions the need for employees in food businesses to wash their hands before serving customers and believes even that should be optional.
Some suggest the focus on wage disparities today, and asking businesses and the wealthy to help in correcting it, is pure political pandering. They suggest this is taking advantage of business because of the governmentās lack of focus on the real issues causing the disparity such as a lack of quality education or job training programs. They tend to forget that these programs are paid for with tax money and the same people object to raising anyoneās taxes, especially those of business and the wealthy.
I would suggest they look at history and see that cutting taxes has not led to economic growth. It rather pads the pockets of the wealthy even more.
Commentary
Is Nigeriaās anti-LGBTQ crackdown only meant for the poor?
Wealth and fame can shield one from prosecution in the country

The Nigeria Police Force in Delta State a few weeks ago arrested more than 67 suspected gay men for attending an alleged gay wedding. Authorities received a tip, they interrogated those arrested and suspicions were cemented on the basis that some of these young men crossed-dressed.
āWeāre bringing this out to the world to note, especially Nigerians, that weāre in Africa and Nigeria. We cannot copy the Western world,ā Deputy Police Supt. Bright Edafe said. āWeāre in Nigeria, and I can guarantee that the suspects will be charged to court.ā
Although these young men have since been released, this situation in Nigeria underscores a glaring paradox: A country that boasts a growing number of queer celebrities ā many of whom have embraced crossdressing as part of their persona ā maintains harsh legal actions against less privileged queer youths who express their identities. This unequal treatment sends a damaging message to the broader queer community; perpetuating a cycle of discrimination, fear and inequality.
In a nation marked by its vibrant culture and diversity, Nigeria’s anti-gay laws stand as a stark contradiction to the principles of tolerance and inclusivity. These laws not only criminalize same-sex relationships, but have also given rise to a troubling disparity in their enforcement. It has disproportionately targeted the poor, transgender individuals and crossdressers, while seemingly ignoring high-profile celebrities who freely express their identities.
Bobrisky, one of Nigeriaās most popular crossdressers who built a large following off of this lifestyle, went on their social media to probe the arrested crossdressers for openly presenting that way.
āI strongly believe you guys can learn from those A-list,ā they wrote. āFirstly, thereās a law passed against you guys that you canāt marry yourselves in this country, why the hell did you call yourselves together to organize a wedding?ā
āThat is the dumbest news I have ever read this week. You all deserve how you all were treated, sad truth. If you feel you are in love with your partner and you want to be together, why not relocate to where you are welcome,ā they continued.
One would think that they were able to make comments like this because they didnāt crossdress; but when you have enough financial and social privilege to wriggle your way out of situations for which your counterparts would otherwise be prosecuted, you would think that the law doesnāt apply to you.
Then-President Goodluck Jonathan in February 2014 passed the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which legalized the prosecution of anyone who shows sexual relations with the same sex. Nigerian MPs in April 2022 pushed to update the SSMPA with a bill that would essentially criminalize crossdressers and force them to face six months in prison, or pay a fine of $1,200.
The measure has yet to become law.
This targeting of transgender people and crossdressers by the Nigerian government is a distressing reality. These individuals often find themselves marginalized, not just socially, but also legally. Raids, arrests and harassment are commonplace for them, making it a daily struggle to live authentically. In a nation where gender expression should be celebrated as a testament to its cultural diversity, it is disheartening to witness these citizens ostracized and penalized for embracing their true selves.
On the other hand, the celebrities who have made crossdressing a part of their public image appear to exist in a different realm. They enjoy a level of visibility and fame that grants them an element of protection. Whether it’s due to their financial resources or their connections, they often escape the legal consequences that ordinary queer Nigerians face. This glaring contrast between the treatment of high-profile celebrities and everyday individuals exposes the systemic inequalities that persist in Nigeria’s legal system.
The implications of this disparity are profound. It sends a troubling message that wealth and fame can shield one from persecution, while those without such privileges bear the brunt of discriminatory laws. This perpetuates a culture of fear and silence among the less privileged queer community, preventing them from fully expressing their identities and participating in society without the constant threat of persecution.
Nigeria must engage in a profound societal dialogue surrounding the unequal treatment of its queer citizens to address this issue. It is crucial to question the legitimacy of laws that infringe upon the fundamental human rights of individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. By sparking these meaningful conversations, we can begin to dismantle the harmful stereotypes and prejudices that fuel this disparity in treatment.
Nigeria’s anti-gay laws not only defy the principles of tolerance and inclusivity, but also expose a disconcerting imbalance in their enforcement. The stark contrast between the leniency shown to high-profile celebrities who embrace crossdressing and the harsh legal actions taken against less privileged queer youths sends a damaging message to the broader queer community. It is time for Nigeria to address this injustice, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society where all its citizens can embrace their identities without fear of persecution.

We have come a long way from the days when HIV was an almost certain death sentence. But our work is far from over. The COVID-19 pandemic led to an uptick in rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and low-income communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and communities of color continue to be impacted at alarming and disproportionately high rates.
These communities are also more likely to be served by Medicaid. Medicaid is the largest source of insurance coverage for people living with HIV in the United States, covering an estimated 40 percent of nonelderly adults with HIV, and Medicaid accounted for 45 percent of all federal HIV spending in 2022. During September, Sexual Health Awareness Month, it is worth examining the crucial ways Medicaid works to keep people healthy ā and what threatens our progress today.
In recent weeks, we have seen a troubling trend develop. Five million Americans have been removed from Medicaid rolls, and many millions more are on the verge of losing coverage as a result of the Medicaid enrollment cuts. This represents the single greatest threat to our progress toward ending the HIV epidemic in years.
During the pandemic, Medicaid enrollment grew by an estimated 20 million people, contributing to the uninsured rate dropping to the lowest level on record in early 2022. But, after a three-year period during which states provided continuous enrollment in exchange for enhanced federal funding, some states resumed dis-enrolling people from Medicaid on April 1. A recent KFF survey found that 17 million people could lose Medicaid coverage as a result of this process, referred to as the Medicaid āunwinding.ā
Many states are not doing enough to ensure that Medicaid-eligible residents don’t lose their coverage. While some have been removed from the rolls because they are newly ineligible, procedural issues account for 74 percent of people losing coverage. An unacceptably high number of Florida, Texas, and Virginia residents who are still eligible for Medicaid are losing coverage because of procedural reasons, such as failing to confirm proof of income or household size.
Our goal should be to ensure that no one who qualifies for Medicaid loses their coverage. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave states the option to use a 12-month grace period, along with other flexibilities, to prepare for the unwinding and make sure residents had what they needed to recertify. So why are some states so eager to remove their residents from Medicaid rolls?
New York, on the other hand, has made equity a cornerstone of recertification work and provides a template for what states can do to help their residents remain covered. The state maximizes the flexibilities offered by CMS and works directly with providers, health plans, and recipients to minimize procedural disenrollments and ensure that people retain health care coverage, either through Medicaid, the stateās health exchange, or private insurance. New York is among the nationās top-performing states in terms of call center wait times, call drop rates, and average time it takes to make an eligibility determination, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. New Yorkās call center is also able to produce materials in 26 languages. In June 2023 alone, New York State certified renewals for more than 400,000 residents.
At Amida Care in New York, we know firsthand that gaps in care for people living with or placed at elevated risk of contracting HIV can be especially devastating. When people lose access to PrEP medication to prevent HIV, they are left vulnerable to contracting HIV, and when people living with HIV lose access to antiretroviral therapy, they risk becoming seriously ill and transmitting HIV to others. We support and guide our members through the recertification process with dedicated outreach efforts that include phone calls, mailings, text messages, and home visits to limit loss of coverage and interruptions in life-saving treatments.
We cannot begin to address health inequity or end the HIV epidemic without strengthening Medicaid. The recent moves by some states to strip their residents of Medicaid coverage will undermine the progress weāve made.
Doug Wirth is president and CEO of Amida Care, a Medicaid Special Needs Health Plan for people affected by HIV.
Opinions
Jann Wennerās racist, sexist take on musicians isnāt surprising
New book āThe Mastersā excludes Black, women pioneers

I enjoyed sharing my birthday with Bruce Springsteen, until I read the bigoted remarks made by his friend Jann Wenner in a recent New York Times interview.
Then I wasnāt so glad to have the same b-day as Bruce.
Springsteen didnāt make the comments. Iām a fan of his music. But, as I write this, Springsteen, as well as some of Wennerās other friends, hasnāt spoken out against Wennerās hurtful comments.
As the saying goes: Some gifts keep on giving. Wenner, who was removed from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation board after making sexist and racist remarks in a Sept. 15 interview with the Times, keeps on giving. But whatās heās giving isnāt a gift. Not to Black people, women, music lovers, or queer folk.
Wennerās one of us. Heās gay.
Iām fine with his sexuality, but youād hope that Wenner, for decades a gatekeeper of music and culture, would be a source of queer pride. But, thatās not the case with Wenner, a co-founder of the Rock the Roll Hall of Fame.
The fallout from Wennerās Times interview is a needed wake-up call for queers.
Too often, we give ourselves a pass. We believe that because we live with homophobia, bi-erasure and transphobia, we know the score. That weāre not sexist, racist, ageist, ableist ā weāre free of prejudice. Paragons of virtue.
Wenner, with his demeaning comments, is, I hope, getting us (especially, we who are Boomers) to look in the mirror. To check ourselves (as we examine our dogs for ticks) for our own prejudices, and for our virtue-signaling.
The controversy around Wenner began when he sat for the interview with David Marchese of the Times on Sept. 15 to promote his new book āThe Masters,ā released by Little Brown and Company on Sept. 26.
āThe Mastersā is a compilation of seven interviews that Wenner conducted with acclaimed musicians who are (or were before their death) his friends: Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Jerry Garcia, Bono, and Springsteen. All of the interviewees are white, male and Boomers.
āThat there are no women or Black musicians in this collection is obvious,ā Wenner writes, according to Kirkus Reviews, in āThe Masters.ā āThis is reflective of the prejudices and practices of the times.ā
Itās hard to describe how bigoted and absurd this is. As many have noted, rock ānā roll was invented by Black people.
You have to wonder what Wenner was thinking. Had he never heard of Jimi Hendrix or Janis Joplin? Stevie Wonder? Joni Mitchell? Madonna?
Though too much racism and sexism exist today, the culture has gotten somewhat better. Attitudes have evolved. Weāve become more aware of our biases.
Unfortunately, this isnāt so for Wenner. Marchese asked Wenner why every musician he talked with in āThe Mastersā is white and male. āInsofar as the women,ā Wenner responded, ājust none of them were as articulate enough on this intellectual level.ā
When pressed by Marchese, who wondered how he could say Joni Mitchell wasnāt āarticulate enough,ā Wenner said, āJoni was not a philosopher of rock ānā roll.ā
āI mean, they just didnāt articulate at that level,ā Wenner said of Black musicians.
Reading the interview, I wondered if heād read Rolling Stone, the magazine he edited for decades. Had he missed the covers with Melissa Etheridge, Joplin, and Tina Turner (to name a few of the women and Black artists featured on the magazineās cover)?
Sadly, Wennerās condescending, racist and sexist take on Black and women musicians isnāt surprising. Often, people with power (rich white men) believe theyāre smarter, more talented, and more entitled to be cultural gatekeepers than those from marginalized groups. Theyāre convinced theyāre more talented and āarticulateā than those who donāt have power.
Forget āThe Masters.ā Check out Etheridgeās new memoir āTalking to My Angels.ā Thatās a good read.
Kathi Wolfe, a writer and a poet, is a regular contributor to the Blade.
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