Waters, a Los Angeles Democrat, and others criticized ownership of the Los Angeles Times and KTLA-TV by Chicago-based Tribune Company “Without diversity in ownership and participation, our democracy is in danger,” Rep. Maxine Waters said at the initial hearing held at the University of Southern California.

(Los Angeles, CA 10/06) Since 1991, Maxine Waters, with her no-holds-bar approach of advocacy on critical issues affecting underserved communities around the world, including the 35th Congressional District for which she protects its social and economic interests, continues to speak to powerful entities that affect our lives and how we see or don’t see ourselves.  This month has been nothing less of the same for her.  On October 4, prior to her being interviewed by Standing-N-Truth™, she appeared before the FCC, speaking out against the monopoly of media companies like Chicago Tribune Media, which owns the Los Angeles Times and KTLA-TV, two major local sources of information within the same demographic.  Unless diversity in ownership and participation is increases, our democracy is in jeopardy.

Her advocacy truly reflects the needs of the community that she serves.  In 1996, African American men in the U.S accounted for 50% of the prison population, according to a study conducted by the University of California-Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.  Many of them are infected with HIV, but there is no system in place to provide treatment to them until they experience AIDS related complications.  “They should also have access to the medications and treatment available to the general public,” she says.

This is why she has introduced Bill HR (6038), which would require federal prisons to provide HIV tests for inmates upon their entrance and departure.  This would not only provide treatment to prisoners who are infected with the disease but it would assist inmates who know their status to make better choices about their behavior.  Maybe they’ll think twice about using protection before engaging in high risk sexual behavior or sharing needles if they are intravenous drug users

Dr. Wyatt is a clinical psychologist, sex therapist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. She was an NIMH Research Scientist Career Development Awardee for 17 years. Her research examines the consensual and abusive sexual relationships of women and men, the effects of these experiences on their psychological well-being, and the cultural context of risks for sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV. She has conducted national and international research since 1980, funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, state and private foundations. The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Wyatt has to her credit more than 110 journal articles and book chapters, and has co-edited or written five books, including Stolen Women: Reclaiming our Sexuality, Taking Back Our Lives and No More Clueless Sex: 10 Secrets to a Sex Life That Works for Both of You. Dr. Wyatt is an Associate Director of the UCLA AIDS Institute and coordinates a core of behavioral scientists who consult with other researchers to recruit underserved populations and conduct research that effectively incorporates socio-cultural factors into HIV/AIDS research. Dr. Wyatt has received numerous awards and honors for her scientific accomplishments, mentoring, and teaching. She has also testified before the United States Congress eight times on issues related to health policy. She was the first African-American woman to be licensed as a psychologist in the state of California.