I was saddened to see and hear that the Los Angeles gay and lesbian
center is responsible for an ad campaign that reads: in print and on
billboards in Los Angeles -
"AIDS IS A GAY DISEASE..."
sadly this will give misguided Christian zealots and aggressive
homophobes the instance to "out act" - either verbally or with actual
violence on the greater gay population of Los Angeles...
many of which who are also positive for HIV, sick or living with AIDS...
and likewise also reinforces in much of the uneducated populace
that: AIDS is only to be worried about if your "Gay" which translates
to those in denial of their behavior(s) "oh well this doesn't apply
to me -- only gay guys get AIDS...." thus furthering the epidemic --
and likewise will also serve to put further social and sexual
pressure on the younger men - who the campaign is aimed at - who may
turn to drugs - alcohol or even unsafe sex to simply escape the pain
- stigma - or the internal message which all gay men get everyday --
"the unspoken message -- "if your gay your gonna get AIDS>>>"
"AIDS is preventable...." seems the logical and wiser choice....
or
"AIDS is a disease of behavior...."
Papering "gay" publications with the ad campaign would be one thing -
Posting the slogan on billboards is grossly irresponsible and
dangerous in my opinion...
both HIV and Aids are both preventable: having said that: likewise
also : so are heart attacks and heart disease, drunk driving,
unwanted teen pregnancy, STDs, cancer from cigarettes, air pollution,
divorce, active drug addiction, and the list goes on...
The ad campaign is a misguided attempt to break the spell of apathy
in the "gay community" I 'am guessing...As if the "gay community" is
still a seperate entity apart from the rest of society - that all
things are not connected nor effect each other in various political
or social ways --
or as if there are any simple answers to the varied social - sexual
psyches that we all pocess... and are trying to heal....
or as if the "gay community" had one or two clear and evident leaders
that have dragged their feet in this crisis...
and likewise as if the doctors and medical industries - hospitals -
nurses and drug companies have no vested interest
nor concern << pro or con >>
concerning HIV : its prevention or spread or even cure....
As if no hetero person ever lost a brother, mother, cousin, icon,
neighbor - father or friends to this disease...
as a gay man I' am saying -- shame on you LA gay and lesbians center
for not having a well thought out campaign -- to keep gay youth and
younger guys in their 20s HIV negative...
the ad campaign is about 20 years too late....
todays ad campaign should read: "its possible to stay HIV negative -
get the support to do so --"
or something to that effect....
As a gay man who has lived in Manhattan, NYC for 20 years....I can
tell you that all the people i know who are HIV positive - straight
and gay - would think this campaign is a vain wish and hopeless dream
that reinforces seperation - ignorance and fear around an already
painful - tradgic - layered and complicated modern issue....
"AIDS is a Gay Disease...." ???
I wish it were that simple.....
Dear LA Gay and Lesbian center LA -- please use your talents and
energies elsewhere...and remember -- shame - death and disease
effects everyone --
just like racism - ignorance - violence - pollution - war - poverty
and lies....
final comment: "were all connected -- AIDS is preventable...."
kirk kerber
Manhattan resident
