By: William B

William B — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:37:19 +0000

Blimey, don’t start Mark off again! What more is there to say that hasn’t been said?! Swift action, not more words, is what is needed. It would be great if Paul Burston would elaborate on the new National Aids Trust initiative, which is designed to encourage MPs to support a motion to ensure that young gay men receive appropriate information and education around HIV. This you have endorsed along with another advocate of harder hitting campaign, Dr. Chris Jessen. In respect of the fact that the NAT – despite not being a member of the CHAPS umbrella of orgs such as the THT and GMFA – has more or less gone along with their PC line and also perpetuated the stigma myth around harder hitting campaigns among others, is this just a charm offensive in reaction to the disquiet that has been building up in recent months, or a genuine commitment by the NAT to break away from the rest, change its stance and get tough with HIV all over again? I ask this because after all these years of the HIV sector’s politicking and manipulations it’s hard to not be cynical. Is this just more rhetoric that will not be matched by action? If not, then what does the NAT define as “appropriate” action, and the word “sensitive”, which appears in its new policy statement, come to that? Sensitive to the feelings of those with the virus would, of course, just mean business as usual…

Comments on: AIDS DOWN, AIDS UP

By: William B