Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA Path: utzoo!linus!bbncca!sdyer From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) Newsgroups: mod.motss Subject: Re: Reply to Byron Howes - San Francisco news Message-ID: <1024@bbncca.ARPA> Date: Sun, 14-Oct-84 02:52:59 EDT Article-I.D.: bbncca.1024 Posted: Sun Oct 14 02:52:59 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 14-Oct-84 05:03:52 EDT References: <3840@decwrl.UUCP> <410@amd.UUCP> Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma. Lines: 46 Approved: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA >The virus, he said, has been found in 40 to 50 >percent of the gay male population in San Francisco. I think the facts are that ANTIBODIES to the virus (HTLV-3) have been found in many members of the gay male population tested in San Francisco. This, of course, is not the same as having AIDS. Unless the gay population of San Francisco is especially scrupulous, I doubt one would ever be able to make such a claim right now based on actual clinical observation: first, HTLV-3 has only been suspected as the causative agent of AIDS in the last six months. Second, the screening procedure alluded to above is only now becoming perfected. If current population estimates hold, the claim above would imply that anywhere from 10,000 to 35,000 men have been already identified as being exposed to HTLV-3, a situation clearly in conflict with the known facts about the development of the screening procedure. Anyway, about the closings: I feel a bit ambivalent about the attempts to close such establishments. On one hand, I don't feel too much grief that it will be less easy for the patrons of such establishments to get their rocks off whenever they want with whomever they find. This kind of anonymous, promiscuous sexual activity is risky for the individual as well as being a public health danger. Right now, so little is known about the acquisition of AIDS as well its spread that one might easily be able to spread it without knowing that you have it. On the other hand, the closings of such establishments, even with the approval of many in the gay community, creates a precedent. How much further is it from closing down particular bathhouses and bookstores than to order the closing of ALL gay men's bars--not just the few which have "backrooms"--under the guise of "public health." It is not too farfetched to imagine this. My own opinion is that the closings (or attempted closings--I understand that there will be a challenge in the courts) are a positive action towards helping stop the spread of AIDS within the gay community. It will be important to remain vigilant, however, that such actions be rational public policy responses to reasonable scientific evidence, and that they are not exercised as an opportunity to harass or oppress gay people. This is a rather sticky point (oops, bad phrase), and I'd like to encourage others to offer their views. -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca.ARPA