Sun 21 Jun 2009 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
HIV testing and support services have seen an upswing in enquiries regarding HIV testing in the wake of the naming of the man at the centre of allegations that he had unsafe sex with six young men and one woman without telling them he has HIV. Accused: Glenn Mills Name suppression was lifted for 40-year old Auckland commuter train driver Glenn Richard Albert Mills at his Friday morning court appearance. Five of the young men listed in police charges subsequently tested HIV positive. In just over 48 hours Body Positive has been contacted by over 30 worried callers, says spokesperson Bruce Kilmister. The NZ AIDS Foundation says it has also seen a sharp upwards trend in calls since Friday morning from men who either have had sex with Mills or who have been alerted to the need for HIV testing by the publicity surrounding the charges laid against Mills. Mills, who generally posed as a 32-year old, made contact with sex partners through internet dating sites, phone sex lines and gay venues. Most concerned calls have come from around the North Island and Auckland in particular, but the NZAF's Wellington office has also taken a number of calls springing from the case. Mills lived in Wellington before moving to Auckland. The Foundation expects the upswing to continue this coming week. Meanwhile Mills' elderly mother has spoken to the Sunday News, denying that her son, whom she has only "guessed" is gay, is the person he is accused of being. Coral Mills says she loves her son, who is "not a criminal, he is not a sexual predator, for God's sake." She says he has been "a good boy." She was unaware he had contracted HIV two years ago, and of his alleged victims, whom she has not spoken to, she says "the fact is they can be treated." She believes the situation is a case of media hype, but has not watched any news bulletins or read any newspaper coverage of the matter. Detective Sergeant Andy King of the Auckland Adult Sexual Assault Team has been calling on people who have had sexual contact with Mills to contact him on 09 302 6400. Body Positive Auckland and the AIDS Foundation each offer fast turn around HIV tests and before and after counselling and both organisations have beefed up their resources to cater to the current rush of enquiries. Their contact details are linked below.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 21st June 2009 - 4:47pm