Furor Over Gays in Military
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Trying to bolster their argument for a ban on gays in the military, top brass predict an increase in the risk of AIDS for heterosexual troops if gay men and lesbians serve openly in the armed forces. This specious argument not only fuels homophobia, it endangers public health.
Establishing the right of gay men and lesbians to serve their country in the military will not facilitate transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is an equal opportunity infector. Any person in the service, gay or straight, who engages in unsafe sexual activities is at risk and compromises the health of the armed forces. It is not who you are that puts you at risk for AIDS; it’s what you do.
The military services must not be allowed to spread inaccurate information about how HIV is transmitted. In the guise of defending one position, they are actively promoting misconceptions about the epidemic and reinforcing the myth that AIDS is always someone else’s problem. One would think that experienced military leaders would understand that you fight fear with facts, not the other way around.
MERVYN F. SILVERMAN MD
President, American Foundation for AIDS
Research, Los Angeles
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