Monday, December 01, 2003
In the beginning it was this thing, not quite relevant to me and my life in the suburbs. It was called 'gay cancer' and since I didn't know anyone who was gay or anyone who had cancer, I wasn't too bothered.
Then I saw two films, that changed my perspective.
The first was An Early Frost, with Aidan Quinn, he of the gorgeous stare, and Gena Rowlands, she of utter divinity. The other was Longtime Companion, with Bruce Davison and Campbell Scott. These films showed the complexities of being gay in the 1980's, life not made easier by this disease, which made gays an easy taget for homophobes, who could blame the disease on homosexuals and at the same time use the disease to stigmatise gay people.
Later on came a greater sympathy for AIDS-sufferers, especially those who got the disease through blood-transfusions and the like, but there were still a sense that the homosexuals somehow brought it on themselves. This is why Philadelphia was good in the sense that Tom Hanks' character was indeed gay - and he died in the end.
Now we believe ourselves educated and sympathetic and gay men know how to protect themselves, so for a while we have rested assuredly, knowing that all is well. But AIDS and HIV is still a massive problem and difficult to solve; so when the Vatican decides that condoms don't stop AIDS, it is an act of high irresponsibility that should be publicly punished. This is something my children should never learn.
"In sub-Saharan Africa, donor support provided an average of three condoms per man per year." Three condoms. Per year. Would you abstain?
I didn't think so. But you can make a point by sending your MP a condom.
While Kofi Annan feels that the world is losing its fight against AIDS and Nelson Mandela thinks that South Africa's greatest enemy now is AIDS, I know it is difficult for us to relate to something we don't know. But do try - if only by following one of the links below and having a read.
WHO
United Nations
Marie Stopes
Medical Foundation and Sexual Health
AIDS Fondet Danmark
HIV-Danmark
Link and Think
Then I saw two films, that changed my perspective.
The first was An Early Frost, with Aidan Quinn, he of the gorgeous stare, and Gena Rowlands, she of utter divinity. The other was Longtime Companion, with Bruce Davison and Campbell Scott. These films showed the complexities of being gay in the 1980's, life not made easier by this disease, which made gays an easy taget for homophobes, who could blame the disease on homosexuals and at the same time use the disease to stigmatise gay people.
Later on came a greater sympathy for AIDS-sufferers, especially those who got the disease through blood-transfusions and the like, but there were still a sense that the homosexuals somehow brought it on themselves. This is why Philadelphia was good in the sense that Tom Hanks' character was indeed gay - and he died in the end.
Now we believe ourselves educated and sympathetic and gay men know how to protect themselves, so for a while we have rested assuredly, knowing that all is well. But AIDS and HIV is still a massive problem and difficult to solve; so when the Vatican decides that condoms don't stop AIDS, it is an act of high irresponsibility that should be publicly punished. This is something my children should never learn.
"In sub-Saharan Africa, donor support provided an average of three condoms per man per year." Three condoms. Per year. Would you abstain?
I didn't think so. But you can make a point by sending your MP a condom.
While Kofi Annan feels that the world is losing its fight against AIDS and Nelson Mandela thinks that South Africa's greatest enemy now is AIDS, I know it is difficult for us to relate to something we don't know. But do try - if only by following one of the links below and having a read.
WHO
United Nations
Marie Stopes
Medical Foundation and Sexual Health
AIDS Fondet Danmark
HIV-Danmark
Link and Think
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