Petrelis Files

SoVo: CDC New Gay Black Chief of HIV Prevention

Almost a month ago I blogged about the CDC appointing a gay black man to run our national HIV/STD/TB prevention programs and no one, either in the liberal AIDS establishment community or from conservative groups seemed to care, much less get excited or concerned enough to weigh in on the development. No stories on Fenton hit the papers in the U.S., but the Jamaica Observer profiled him and his family last month, failing to reference his gayness.

Things have changed. Atlanta's Southern Voice this week ran a piece on Fenton, the agenda he wants to execute for the CDC, and his sexual orientation. Here are the opening paragraphs, neatly summarizing the story up to now:

> As a gay black man, Dr. Kevin Fenton acknowledges his life experiences will influence how he manages his new post as director of the National Center for HIV, STD & TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

> But it’s his career as a public health official that will play the most important role as he works to curb the rising rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S. and globally, Fenton stressed.

> "Yes, my experiences will have influence. But I have many identities. It is my commitment to public health and my commitment to serve the American people and the global community that is most important," Fenton said in an interview with Southern Voice Jan. 31.

> Fenton took over his new post at the Atlanta-based CDC on Jan. 23. He served as the chief of the CDC’s National Syphilis Elimination Effort during 2005 before being appointed to his new job in November. He has worked in research, epidemiology and the prevention of HIV and other STDs since 1995 and was previously the director of the HIV & STI Department at the United Kingdom’s Health Protection Agency.

> But though Fenton is gay, the CDC is not touting him as a gay official in its public press materials. Gay activist Michael Petrelis said he finds that troubling.

> "Why should we care? Because it is significant to have a black health official talking to other black people. If he isn’t known as a gay black man, the CDC loses an opportunity to be effective. Is the CDC closeting him because they fear conservative backlash from the Bush administration?" Petrelis said.

> Jessica Frickey, a CDC spokesperson, said it is agency policy to not release personal information to the public.

Um, yes, Dr. Fenton, we know you have many identities, one of which is being gay but that part of you was conveniently left out of the Jamaica Observer article, which doesn't appear to bother you in the least. To be honest my queer brother, I'd like for you to make good use of EVERY part of your identities, ethnic heritage, social skills and all your medical education in controlling diseases.

At the same time, I don't want to let the CDC off the hook. CDC spokesperson Jessica Frickey told Southern Voice the health agency does "not release personal information to the public."

Oh, really? Not so. Looking at these shocking details from the CDC chief's private life, as noted in her official agency bio:

> Dr. Gerberding resides in Atlanta with her husband, David, who is a software engineer. Dr. Gerberding relaxes by scuba diving, reading on the beach, gardening, and doting on her three cats.

So it's quite alright for the federal health authorities to promote Gerberding's heterosexual relationship, tell us about her husband's career and that she fancies felines.

If it's somehow pertinent to highlight a few humanizing facts from Gerberding's personal life, then an equal attitude at CDC should apply to learning more about the human side of Fenton.