Coalition Welcomes A.I.D.S. Decision (Press, 25 August 1983)
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Summary: Coalition Welcomes A.I.D.S. Decision (Press, 25 August 1983)
On 25 August 1983, the National Gay Rights Coalition expressed its support for the Minister of Health's decision to classify Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) as a notifiable disease. The coalition's general secretary, Mr Hugh Gaw, highlighted that this classification is essential for controlling the disease and conducting research to find potential cures, as it necessitates tracking those who have contracted the illness and identifying individuals at risk. Despite welcoming the announcement, Gaw voiced concerns regarding the specific targeting of gay men. He pointed out that the Minister, Mr Malcolm, had indicated that AIDS transmission was primarily associated with homosexual men who have multiple partners. Gaw countered this claim by noting that AIDS cases have also been documented among haemophiliacs, drug users, and individuals from Haiti, as well as among those outside these categories. He warned that labelling gay men as scapegoats is not only unfair but potentially harmful. Gaw cautioned that focusing on one demographic overlooks the broader implications of the disease and could foster complacency in the general population about the risks of transmission and the need for vigilance and education regarding AIDS.
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