News in brief: UCSF transgender program receives grant

The UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender HIV Prevention has received a grant from the California Endowment that will expand access to information and resources around health care for transgender people.

The $125,000 grant is a much-needed boost to the center, director JoAnne Keatley, MSW, said.

"Many physicians are in dire need of the information that we will make available in order to provide the highest quality and most appropriate health care to transpeople," Keatley said.

The Center of Excellence, as it is known, was launched in 2007 to provide professional training, research development, and resources to increase access to culturally competent HIV prevention services for transgender people in California. It receives funding from the state Office of AIDS under a competitive contract that was issued in July 2007. Keatley noted that contract was for three years at $300,000 per year.

Keatley said she was thrilled the center received the recent grant to supplement the project.

"I am positive that it will have huge implications for the transgender community in terms of being able to access quality health care throughout the state," she said in an e-mail.

According to the center, the transgender community is currently experiencing high rates of HIV in many parts of the state. In San Francisco, the percentage of transgender women living with HIV is estimated to be between 16 percent and 60 percent. In Los Angeles, studies have shown that between one-quarter and one-half of transgender women in the county are living with HIV.

State AIDS officials expressed support for the center and its work.

"Access to appropriate and sensitive primary health care is an important component of HIV prevention for transgender individuals," stated Dr. Michelle Roland, division chief of the state Office of AIDS. "The California Endowment's grant to expand access to transgender primary care information is an important step forward in our ongoing efforts."

The center collaborates with UCSF's Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center and its Center for AIDS Prevention Studies. Additionally, the school's LGBT Resource Center helped develop the proposal.

Keatley said that the center would actively continue to seek possible funding sources in order to be able to continue work past the July 2010 end of the current state contract.

Treasurer offers payroll tax relief

San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu announced March 27 that payroll tax-paying businesses in San Francisco that are experiencing a downturn may petition the city to reduce their tax prepayments to the city.

"If your business is having a bad year, and your payroll is less than it was last year, you can work with our office to make sure that the city is collecting the appropriate amount of tax," Cisneros said in a statement.

Chiu, a former member of the Small Business Commission, said he also understands merchants' troubles as a result of the recession.

Added Mayor Gavin Newsom, "This is one of a series of steps the city is taking to assist businesses in this difficult time."

According to the treasurer's office, approximately 8,700 businesses make payroll expense tax prepayments to the city. Prepayment amounts are based on a business' prior year tax. However, per the city's business and tax regulations code, a taxpayer may petition the treasurer's office to reduce the prepayment amount. The taxpayer must show clear and convincing evidence that the prepayment amount calculated by the city will amount to more than one quarter or one half (depending on the size of the business) of the taxpayer's total payroll expense tax liability for the 2009 tax year.

Cisneros noted that any change in prepayment amount will be effective only upon written approval by his office. Until that time, taxpayers must pay prepayment amounts on a timely basis, based on the amount the treasurer's office has calculated.

To apply for a petition, send a letter to: Business Tax Section, Account Services Unit, P.O. Box 7425, San Francisco, CA 94120. Information is available online at www.sfgov.org/treasurer.

AHF offers free HIV testing

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has started offering free confidential HIV testing at its Out of the Closet thrift store at 1498 Polk Street in San Francisco, agency officials said.

Adam Ouderkirk, regional director for the Bay Area, said that the service is done Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. AHF uses the rapid HIV test, which involves a swab of the mouth. Ouderkirk said the HIV tests would be offered on Saturdays too, beginning in June.

While the Los Angeles-based AHF has several other store locations in the Bay Area, the HIV testing is currently only available at the Polk Street store (at California).

Early bird special for AEF event

The AIDS Emergency Fund's annual gathering and awards event, the County Fair, takes place in late May but those interested in attending can save $10 if they purchase tickets before April 15.

Last year's base ticket price of $40 will remain in place this year, but early bird tickets are now available for $30, organizers said. Admission includes a stack of free game coupons.

Now in its second year, the County Fair is scheduled for Sunday, May 31 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the County Fair Building, 9th Avenue and Lincoln, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The festive event will include country western themed musical performances, carnival games, picnic food, and pie-baking and celebrity look-alike contests.

Mike Smith, executive director, noted that the fundraiser is in keeping with AEF's long-standing tradition of inexpensive, community-based benefits. AEF provides financial assistance to low-income people living with HIV/AIDS.

Those receiving awards at this year's event include: Randy Schiller of Randall Schiller Productions, whose company has donated services to hundreds of charitable events, including AEF and its sister organization, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund; longtime community volunteer Mark Paladini; Dan Bernal, district director for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and a former AEF board president; Liz Baldwin of Bon Appetit Management, who has contributed all the turkey for AEF's Christmas Eve dinners for 21 years; Lance Brittain, AEF client and coordinator of the agency's Every Penny Counts campaign; and Stacy Aldrich, director of the Redwood Room at the Clift and producer of the Clift's Pink Party for breast cancer.

To purchase tickets or to sign up as a volunteer, visit www.aef-sf.org or call (415) 558-6999.

EQCA to hold SF town hall

Equality California this month kicked off a series of town hall meetings across the state to focus on the next steps in the fight for marriage equality and the future of the LGBT movement. In San Francisco, a meeting will take place Monday, April 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street.

Community members are invited to join in discussions about organizing in California; strategies for securing equal recognition at the federal level, keeping LGBTs and allies energized and involved; and other issues.

For more information, visit www.eqca.org/townhall.