Bush appoints gay man to head AIDS office

From Major Garrett
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush has appointed gay Republican Scott Evertz to lead the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, the White House announced on Monday.

Evertz, 38, is a fund-raising executive with a faith-based senior citizens program in Milwaukee. He becomes the first gay person to lead the office, which was established by President Clinton in 1994.

One official said the office would expand efforts to confront the "growing global health care crisis." The official said Evertz's office would coordinate policy with the departments of State, Health and Human Services and with the White House Domestic Policy Council.

The official also said a full-time representative from each of the departments will work in the AIDS policy office.

The official added that the Bush budget provides an increase in AIDS/HIV funding through the HHS Department. It also boosts funding for AIDS/HIV at the Centers for Disease Control by $23 million.

Evertz is the Wisconsin president of the Log Cabin Republicans, the most influential gay and lesbian Republican organization in the country. Bush met with Evertz and other Log Cabin Republicans in Austin, Texas, last April, a move that drew attention because the GOP's 1996 presidential nominee, Bob Dole, refused to meet with them and even returned campaign donations.

The Austin meeting, however, occurred after the primary fight with Sen. John McCain of Arizona, was over. Bush declined to meet with the Log Cabin Republicans during the primaries.

A White House official said Evertz will lead an expanded effort to confront AIDS at home and abroad.

On NBC's "Meet the Press," Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday the White House agrees with the Clinton administration's conclusion that the global spread of AIDS has become a national security issue.

"It is an area of great concern," Cheney said.

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Office of National AIDS Policy
Log Cabin Republicans

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