Prison For A.I.D.S. Sex Recommended (Press, 1 February 1985)

A Swedish Government agency has recommended legal changes that would allow for prison sentences of up to two years for individuals diagnosed with AIDS who engage in sexual relations with non-sufferers. This proposal was presented by a spokesman from the National Public Safety Board, which expressed its expectation for official action on the matter later in 1985. The board clarified that individuals with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) should still be permitted to have sexual relationships with other AIDS sufferers. The report from the Board emphasised the necessity of legal measures to effectively halt the spread of AIDS. As of the time of the report, eight individuals in Sweden had died from the disease, with an estimated 200 to 300 more exhibiting symptoms. The majority of cases in Sweden involved homosexual men, but an increasing number of heterosexuals were also reported to be infected. In New South Wales, Australia, the Health Commission is seeking legal counsel to explore the possibility of closing gay bathhouses and saunas as part of their strategy to mitigate the spread of AIDS. Dr Tony Adams, the commission’s chief medical officer, indicated that the rapid increase of AIDS cases in Sydney and Melbourne had prompted a reconsideration of previous decisions against such closures. This change was influenced by a report from a Federal AIDS task force, suggesting that as many as 50,000 men in Sydney may have the virus in their bloodstream. Antibody testing revealed that approximately half of Sydney's homosexual and bisexual males tested positive for the virus, although a positive result does not guarantee the development of AIDS. The report issued by the commission warned that up to 100 Australians could die from AIDS within the year and expressed concerns about bisexual men who frequent bathhouses and saunas potentially transmitting the virus to their wives and children. The Health Commission is considering closure as one of several options, especially if the gay community, which they have been collaborating with, supports such a move. In Melbourne, Professor David Penington reported that between 1,600 and 4,000 male homosexuals and bisexuals had tested positive for antibodies associated with the AIDS virus. This highlights the growing concern and urgency surrounding the AIDS epidemic in the region.

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