District of Columbia
D.C. bill would bar insurance discrimination against PrEP users
Legislation aimed at ‘removing barriers’ to using HIV prevention medication
D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) introduced a bill on June 28 calling for prohibiting insurance companies from taking into consideration a person’s use of the HIV prevention medication known as PrEP in decisions related to the issuance of disability, life, or long-term care insurance policies.
The bill, called the Removing Barriers and Reducing Stigma to Encourage HIV Prevention Amendment Act of 2023, would amend an existing D.C. law passed in 1986 that, among other things, bans insurance companies from using a person’s age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, area of residence, occupation, or similar factors to predict whether the person in the future may develop AIDS.
A statement released by Pinto’s office says her bill is intended to “ensure individuals are not dissuaded from using PrEP because of potential negative consequences on their disability, life, or long-term care insurance” and to curtail stigma associated with PrEP use.
“PrEP is a safe, reliable, and crucial medication to prevent the contraction of HIV,” Pinto said in the statement. “We need to be promoting its use – not discriminating against people, including LGBTQQIA+ and people of color who are disproportionately affected by HIV, who use this important medication,” Pinto says in the statement.
“I am proud to introduce this legislation to advance public health, reduce stigmas associated with PrEP and HIV, and protect the rights of PrEP users,” Pinto said.
Nine other Council members on the 13-member Council signed on as co-introducers of the bill, including D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large).
The bill was assigned by Mendelson to the Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development, which was expected to hold a public hearing on the bill.
Pinto’s three-page bill states, “No life, disability income, or long-term care insurance policy or contract shall contain any exclusion, reduction, or other limitation of benefits related to the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP] when taken pursuant to a valid prescriber’s order.”
The bill also states, “In reviewing an application for life, disability income, or long-term care insurance, no insurer, or agent, broker, or employee of the insurer shall factor the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis when taken pursuant to a valid prescriber’s order into a decision regarding: (1) whether to issue, renew, or cancel a policy; (2) the rates, premiums, dues, assessments, benefits covered, or expenses reimbursable under the policy; or (3) the duration or terms of the policy.”
The bill calls for imposing a fine of “not less than $1,000, and not more than $10,000 for each violation” of the proposed law.
The DMV’s own furry group was on full display on the Metro on Sept. 12.
Shutterpaws is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Maryland.
The furry group has been doing the FurRide event since 2024 and has blown up in popularity for furries around DMV. They showcased themselves on the Silver and Blue Lines near the Smithsonian on Sept. 12.
“A lot of careful planning goes into running these events, with the goal being a seamless and enjoyable experience for everyone who attends,” says Zayre, a Shutterpaws staff member. “There’s a lot that you learn just by trial and error, and as Shutterpaws hosts more and more events, our team of event organizers continues to learn and refine our approach to keep things running smoothly and finding new ways to engage with our community.”
With a larger growth of participation in the community comes many challenges with the group, especially when it comes to the Metro rides and organizing.
“The biggest challenge that we face as organizers is keeping things fresh and finding new and engaging venues to host events,” says Zayre. “Recently we saw a lot of success hosting a meet at On Target Battlezone, an indoor NERF gun battle arena where our crew was welcome to show up and play both with and without a fur suit.”
Nevertheless, Shutterpaws receive overwhelming support from the community and partners.
“Across the DMV there are so many amazing places to host a Shutterpaws event so we can pursue our mission of helping connect fur suiters and photographers, and we’re blown away with the amount of support we’ve received from our community partners,” says Zayre.
Shutterpaws plans to do more events for anyone in the DMV who is interested.
Their next event in collaboration with DC Fur Meet will take place at Pitchers (2317 18th St., N.W.) on Saturday. Visit Shutterpaws’ website for more information.
District of Columbia
Hands Off the Arts to form ‘human chain’ around Kennedy Center
Drag performer Tara Hoot among event organizers
An organization called Hands Off the Arts has announced it is holding a protest on Friday, Sept. 18, in which between 400 and 800 participants are expected to create a “human chain” around the Kennedy Center to voice their strong objection to President Donald Trump’s call for possibly demolishing the Kennedy Center.
“Hands Off the Arts is organizing a rally Sept. 18 against the president’s defacing of JFK’s memorial, his removal and censorship of art, and the threat to demolish the center if he can’t remake the site in his image,” a statement released by the group says.
The statement says the event will start with a rally at 6:30 p.m. on the Kennedy Center steps and culminate with a “human chain” around the building. “There will be musical performances, testimonials from current and former employees, along with other special guest speakers,” it says
A separate announcement by the group says longtime D.C. drag performer Tara Hoot, who has performed at the Kennedy Center in past years, was among the organizers of the Sept. 18 protest.
The planned protest follows Trump’s decision last year to use his authority to replace the existing members of the Kennedy Center’s board of directors with new members loyal to him. Over the objection of longtime Kennedy Center supporters, the Trump-appointed board changed the name of the center, at Trump’s request, from the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts to the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
But following the threat of legal action by opponents who pointed out that the name change could not be legally made unless approved by Congress, the name change was cancelled, with Trump saying he would take steps to restore it later.
The Washington Post, meanwhile, reports in a Sept. 13 news story that because of negative publicity related to Trump’s actions, the Kennedy Center was facing “fiscal collapse” and possible bankruptcy and could be forced to shut down as early as this week.
According to the Post report, a 57-page document presented to the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees says the center was facing a financial and structural building crisis, with the recent collapse of part of the building’s inside ceiling, indicating the building was unsafe for employees and the public. Among other things, the document says the Kennedy Center may not be able to make payroll or pay for routine maintenance “within a matter of weeks,” the Post reports.
Some LGBTQ advocates were among those who joined others in boycotting the Kennedy Center to express their objections to Trump’s actions, including a statement by Trump that he objected to the Kennedy Center’s practice of hosting drag performances.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington has been among the LGBTQ performing arts groups and artists that have performed at the Kennedy Center.
“With the future still very much uncertain, now more than ever, the Center needs you to stand up for freedom of expression and against authoritarian overreach into arts and culture institutions,” the Hands Off the Arts group says in its announcement of the Hands Around the Kennedy Center protest.
“You have the opportunity to make a difference — show up with Hands Off the Arts and show your power as part of Hands Around the Kennedy Center,” it says.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
District of Columbia
Blade welcomes fall intern
Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.
Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.
“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”
Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.
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