April 1, 1985

Gay Peoples Chronicle

Page 5

LETTERS

Here is a contribution to your chronicle (sic). Homosexuality and lesbianism is (sic) a sickness that needs healing. Your headlines should read "get healed." Modern medicle (sic) science can't do it but christianity (Sic) can. For those who would dare to look into Gods (sic) word there is Romans 1: 25-28 which clearly makes Homosexuality (sic) wrong for God fearing people. Rom 1:18.

God has sent to you people a curse called A.I.D.E.S. (sic) to tell you to repent or suffer death in a horrible way. Use what intelligence you have to understand that message and relate it

to the gay community. Deny God and he will deny you, both healing and life eternal.

Healing is eazy (sic). Get on your knees and pray for it, fast for it and read Gods (sic) word on the matter and resist the desires to do that which is wrong.

You may gain public acceptance and gay rights and advance right into Sodom & Gomorah (sic) but before God you will lose everything.

Think about it, is a very few moments of weakness satisfaction worth the loss of everything?

Just a wittness (sic) for the truth

THE AIDS TEST-

By Buck Harris

And Other Bad Jokes

The Centers for Disease Control sponsored a one-day conference on February 12, 1085. Those attending were representatives from blood centers, hemophilia centers, American Red Cross, health departments, major hospitals, and the gay community. The purpose of the conference was to disseminate information about the soon-to-bereleased HTLV-III blood test.

I was asked to speak about the reaction in the gay community. This is what I said:

Have you heard the latest Margaret Heckler (Secretary of Health and Human Services) joke? No, it has nothing to do with Dynel wigs. It falls into the 'I've got some good news and I've got some bad news' genre. Let me set the

scene.

Ms. Heckler is meeting with the guy who hires

and fires at Coors Brewery. She says to him, "I've got some good news and some bad Which do you prefer

news.

to hear first?"

He says, "Give me the bad news first."

The

"Well, we've developed a blood test that can detect antibodies to HTLV-III. number of false negative and false positive results is significant; and in the case of true positives the results have no prognostic or diagnostic value and will no doubt create unnecessary anxiety and havoc in the lives of otherwise healthy

men.

"Boy, that is bad news. Tell me the good news."

"Well, the good news is that if the guy tests seropositive the odds are four You to one that he's gay. wont have to use that nasty old lie detector test to screen out gay employees anymore."

IT'S OUT...

gay peoples CHRONICLE

Name

Address

City

(3)

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

GOTTOTO62

"IN GAYS

JUDY GARLAND

TRUST"

APRIL 1985

Ro3 DARoff

IN AN ATTEMPT TO APPEAL TO GAY AND LESBIAN VOTERS, RONALD REAGAN ISSUES A NEW BILL.

I have been asked to talk about public response to the blood test. What is being echoed throughout this land and around the world is a loud and clear, "This text is bad news. 11

The word from all national gay organizations and the majority of medical professionals and local public health administrators is, "Do not take this test." But will this strong recommendation be followed?

Last September at an annual gay picnic in northeast Onic, a truly gay and festive event that draws thousands of gay men and lesbians, the Health Issues Taskforce of Cleveland administered a survey about the blood test. Most of the people walking by its booth elected not to participate in the survey because they felt it would disrupt the pleasant mood. Seventyeight did respond.

The first question read: (1) You have probably heard or read that a test will soon be available which can determine whether you have been exposed to AIDS. Would you take the text? 80.7 per cent responded yes.

The second question read: (2) However, at this time.

we do not know what the results of the test mean, i.e. whether exposure means that you will in fact go on to develop AIDS, whether it might diminish, go away at some later time, or what it means in terms of risks or expectations, etc. Given this lack of clarity, would you still want to take the test?

66.6 per cent of the 78 respondents still said yes. I think these comme ents demonstrate the mixed reaction of the gay community. They also demonstrate its blind trust in the federal public health system. "If there's a test available it must have some value." And also evident is that many gay men are willing to take great personal risk to aid in research to learn more about this devastating di-

sease.

In the last week I have spoken to gay health professionals in New York and San Francisco. In typical San Francisco style a demonstration is being planned to boycott the test. Before the city oouncil is a bill that would fund and desig-

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