Letters

Consequences of testing-and sexual habits-have serious implications

have

Buck Harris offers readers growing public hysteria about superficial advice concerning the "spread" of AIDS especially since gays don't constitutionally recognized right to privacy? Issues of discrimination deserve more than an aside in Harris' column. He could at least tell นร what state policies do and do not exist regarding insurance,

the HIV-antibody test in your September Issue. While Mr. Harris urges readers to make up their minds about the test, his one-sided synopsis of the testing debate leaves without complete information to do that.

Let me raise some other Accepting

issues.

widespread

universal)

(but by

the means

belief that HIV is the virus that "causes" AIDS, what are the implications of testing positive or negative? The person labeled antibodypositive may or may not be

infected with the virus, may or may not be infectious, may or may not go on to develop AIDS. The person labeled negative may not have the virus, or may have the virus but no antibodies at the time of testing. results

are

Test completely ambiguous. But let's grant a meaning to the test; how will test results help us, in Harris' words "to determine how you behave sexually"? If you test positive, you either stop having sex or practice safer sex. If you test negative, you either stop having sex or practice safer sex. Testing is an expensive and dangerous way to the same thing.

Potentially

potentially tell people

dangerous,

because once you accept the efficacy of the test (as Harris does) as a valid technique for AIDS control, you've started down the slippery slope toward right-wing manipulation of the test in the name of "public health". Senators Jesse Helms and Aları Simpson and Rep. Darinemeyer all point out that the logic of testing leads public reporting, detention, and quarantine.

I'm sure

Harris is against this, but how strong will concern about civil rights be in the face of October 1987

employment, etc.

not

Changing sexual behavior and promoting safer sex is a group process of transforming our sexual culture, individual ritual of trotting of for secret tests. Recent studies attempting to correlate knowledge of HIV-antibody status with the ability to alter and maintain changes in sexual behavior have found that test results are much less effective than a positive identity and the existence of a supportive community informed about and committed to safer And we'll only start to build that when community institutions like the Chronicle

sex.

Couch potatoes arise!

I have lived in Cleveland for twelve years and been semi actively (sic) involved in the service aspect of community.

the

I have volunteered for almost any cause that was necessary, devoting time to make a difference in the gay lifestyle here.

Recently I was re-recruited for the hotline because no one would take time out of their schedule to do community service.

When are the

lesbians and gays in Cleveland going to wake up and smell the coffee? The services here are in desperate need of people willing to give their time to be maintained. All I have to say to this community is get off your sofa arid out of the bars arid do something now! Don't leave it to the other guy or womani if value services

you

the

available, do something to

help.

An Angry Volunteer

and gay health "professionals" Anologies to Auntie Ray, give us all of the information and Janice T.. We will include your contributions next month..

empower us to make informed and responsible decisions about sexual practices. Harris' onesided presentation of the testing issue does not give us that power.

Joe Interrante Oberlin, OH

LESBIAN GAY

Community Service Center

OF GREATER CLEVELAND

651-7111

WATCH FOR NEXT ISSUE. FULL REPORT ON MARCH ON WASHINGTON

600,000 OF US.!!

TOLL FREE

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AIDS HOTLINE 1-800-332-AIDS

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The CHRONICLE