A.I.D.S. publicity

Press, 6 December 1985, Page 10

A.I.D.S. publicity

Sir, — I hope that J. Burke has read the advertisement about A.I.D.S. in the same paper in which her letter appeared (“’The Press,” December 4). It is quite possible for a great many people to get A.I.D.S. Some women have bisexual partners and do not even know it, and then there are men who are unfaithful to their partners. These men may not know the past partners of their affairs. Also, sexually abused children could get A.I.D.S. I have read of a baby as young as two weeks being sexually abused. It is not just homosexuals, haemophiliacs and drug users who are at risk any more. — Yours, etc., J. SMITH. December 4, 1985.

Sir,—The new full-page advertisement shows that the Health Department has learnt little since the infamous “A.I.D.S. The facts” publicity. Again, facts are presented with strenuous effort to protect the male homosexual from his responsibility for the fatal spread of the disease — 100 per cent here so far. Throughout, we are asked to accept equality of risk for homosexuals and heterosexuals “through sexual contact.” “Safer sex” emphasises “his or her risks” and ignores homosexuality until

the fifth paragraph. “Having sex with a prostitute, bisexual or homosexual man ... can be especially risky.” Here, not even malefemale equality is pretended, the prostitute being awarded top credit, with the overwhelmingly most common vector in third place. The advice “For Parents,” starts with a lie for children are very likely to get A.I.D.S. when raped or seduced by predatory homosexuals. — Yours, etc., VARIAN J. WILSON. December 4, 1985.