Psychiatry: Deciphering the Adolescent Brain Medicine: Strategy Is Developed to Fortify DNA Vaccine Against AIDS Virus Social Medicine: Conference Takes Global Measure of Mental Illness Research Administration: New Office Protects All Research Subjects Diversity: Program Probes Barriers to Benefits for Gays, Lesbians, Presents 2nd Annual Diversity Awards No Home Run, But Batter on Base Against Lou Gehrig's Disease Study Makes Sweet Discovery of Bitter Taste Receptors Mutation Bias Maintains Length of Genetic Repeats MRI May Predict Alzheimer's Disease HMS Faculty Council: Faculty Growth, Library Discussed In Memoriam: Sharon Clayborne New Appointments to Full Professor A View from the Inner City: Tolerance Is Not Enough Front Page

Program Probes Barriers to Benefits for Gays, Lesbians, Presents Second Annual Diversity Awards The April 6 program in the medical dean's On the Threshold series, "The Last Legal Discrimination: The Impact of Public Policy on the Gay and Lesbian Community," was less an indictment of American social policy, as the title suggests, and more a call for gays and lesbians to voice their experience of discrimination. "It is a bit unrealistic to ask others to stand up for us if we are unwilling to do so," said Gerry Studds, former U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts and one of two panelists on the program. He urged the audience to refuse to be invisible. "That is our challenge," he said. Studds served 12 terms in the House, from 1973 to 1997, and in 1993 became the first openly gay representative. His ease in the spotlight became evident as his comments glided from exhortation to quip: can heterosexuals be trusted in the White House? he asked, referring to Clinton's scandal-ridden presidency. Copanelist Jarrett Barrios, a first-term state representative from Cambridge, reviewed current legislation of particular interest to the gay and lesbian community. He noted the domestic partnership benefits bill that passed the state senate and is now before the house. It would extend equal employment benefits to domestic partners of public sector employees. He conceded, though, that the bill is "far less a solution" than a Vermont statute passed in March recognizing "civil unions" between same-sex partners, which confers the legal and economic rights of marriage. "Vermont has really changed the whole terrain," he said. In response to a question about the effect of the Vermont statute, moderator Jennifer Levi, staff attorney with Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, said no one knows what the ramifications will be. "There has never been a law like this, not just in the country but in the world," she said. The benefits may be ruled portable to other states, for example. The second annual faculty and staff diversity award winners are (from top) Johnye Ballenger, Mary Cassesso (with Robert Amelio), and Beth Beighlie (with Rosa DeSilva). Photos by Liza Green Diversity Awards The speaking program culminated with the second annual presentation of the HMS–HSDM Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award and the HMS–HSDM Staff Diversity Awards. The Amos award went to Johnye Ballenger, HMS instructor in pediatrics at Children's Hospital, the staff awards to Mary Cassesso, associate dean for administration and finance at HSDM, and Beth Beighlie, media technician in Media Services at HMS. The awards are given to those who best "embrace and promote the spirit of diversity at HMS and HSDM."