A.I.D.S. Means Decay — Paper (Press, 19 September 1983)

On 19 September 1983, the official Chinese newspaper, Guangming Daily, published an article characterising AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) as "the homosexual disease" and suggesting it epitomised the moral decline of capitalist societies. The piece, featured in a column named "Glimpses of the West," asserted that AIDS was a manifestation of societal decay, linking its emergence primarily to the homosexual community as well as drug addicts, although it emphasised homosexuality. The article stated that AIDS first surfaced among homosexuals in California and highlighted a perceived correlation between the disease and the moral values prevalent in capitalist societies. It claimed that the prevalence of AIDS among gay men was indicative of broader moral issues within those societies. Additionally, the article cited concerns about the influence of homosexuals in political matters, suggesting they could sway elections, despite being marginalised. Guangming Daily's rhetoric reflected China's stringent views on homosexuality, which is criminalised under its conservative sexual ethics. The newspaper's language reinforced the state’s puritanical stance on sexual conduct and positioned AIDS not just as a health crisis but as a social commentary on the ills of Western lifestyles. The article concluded with a reference to a headline from a Geneva newspaper that framed AIDS as a divine punishment linked to lifestyles that breached traditional moral values.

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