Letter: So glad AIDS no longer serious

Eddy Elmer

Xtra! April 7, 2011, p. 6

Dear Editor,

I was so pleased to read that HIV infection and AIDS are no longer considered serious conditions (BCPWA Now Positive Living BC, Xtra #459, March 24). As Brian Chittock of AIDS Vancouver says, most infected people are "only" HIV-positive and AIDS "has no meaning" to many of them. I'm delighted that AIDS organizations feel we've made so much progress in fighting HIV and AIDS that we no longer even need to mention these conditions by name!

Given that HIV infection has been normalized and is now considered a chronic, manageable condition just like any other, I think the work of AIDS organizations is mostly done. Since HIV infection is now merely "positive living" and rarely leads to AIDS, then obviously it can't be that serious that we still require government funding for education and prevention programs. And obviously, if HIV and AIDS are no longer important enough to name, then research dollars can finally be diverted to real diseases that warrant more urgent attention.

I am also delighted that my elected officials will finally be able to focus on the more vulnerable members of our society. After all, the gay community is much strengthened now that HIV is comparatively benign and AIDS, like the countless people it has killed, is "archaic". Yes, HIV rates are rising again among gay and bisexual men, and many of them aren't even aware of their status, but there's really no reason to pay special attention to our community because we've now distanced ourselves from the stigma of HIV and AIDS as "gay" diseases. Talk about coming a long way! As Glyn Townson says of the newly-named Positive Living BC, "we're embracing our future!"

Eddy Elmer,
Vancouver, BC