Police
Brutality Against LGBT Communities
Amnesty
International is researching how the police interact
with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people
and communities. Part of this research includes collecting
testimony about LGBT encounters with police. .Do
you have a story to tell?
(Columbus,
Ohio) A man serving a 10-day jail sentence for driving under
the
influence is being denied time-sensitive HIV medication in what
his mother
calls a life-threatening situation.The
prisoner, whose name is being withheld at his request, is serving
his
time at the Franklin County Correction Center, and despite a
letter sent by
the American Civil Liberties Union informing administrators
at the facility
of the inmate's condition and need for the medication, his drugs
are being
withheld, the ACLU charges."This
is very serious," said Howard Grossman, M.D., a highly
respected HIV
expert in New York City. "A lapse in treatment could cause
him to become
resistant in only a matter of days and then the drugs won't
work."Prior
to reporting to the facility to begin his sentence, the inmate
contacted the ACLU after he was told by the facility not to
bring his
medications to the jail. The ACLU sent a letter to the facility
on the day
the inmate began his sentence, January 14th, notifying the authorities
of
the inmate's condition and outlining the facility's legal obligations
to
provide the necessary medical treatment. The ACLU also called
the facility
and was assured by administrators that the inmate would receive
his
treatment in a timely manner.But,
the ACLU says that he is still not receiving his medication."My
son is willing to pay for his crime, but serving a short jail
sentence
shouldn't be life threatening," said the Columbus man's
mother. "My son is
alive today only because he has been extremely careful in taking
his
medications. I'm really afraid of what this interruption will
do to his
health."According
to a recent survey by the ACLU of HIV service providers around
the country, lapses in medical treatment are far too common
for inmates in
jails and prisons around the country. (story)Earlier
this in Canada it was disclosed that a man with HIV was denied
his
mediation for seven days and forced to sleep on a concrete floor
in a
Toronto area jail while awaiting a bail hearing. When the situation
was
made public charges of threatening his ex-boyfriend were withdrawn.
(story)©365Gay.com®
2004
