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From: rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo)
Newsgroups: net.med,net.motss,net.singles
Subject: Re: The Age of AIDS
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Date: Wed, 3-Jul-85 16:45:59 EDT
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Posted: Wed Jul  3 16:45:59 1985
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But inevitably I have comments, but only 2 cents worth, to avoid embroilment
in a net dispute.

AIDS wasn't a "disease of male promiscuous homosexuals".  Aside from
striking IV drug users, Haitians, Central Africans & European hetero-
sexuals, more than a few gay victims weren't promiscuous, unless
Lundberg means by "promiscuity" anything but strict monogamy, not what
most people mean by that term.  Given the long latency of the virus
(7 years in some cases of congenital AIDS), even stable sexual relation-
ships don't entirely eliminate the risk of exposure, though they do
greatly lower it: either partner may've been infected years ago.  I've
heard/read about gay victims who had been in stable relationships for
years, some of whom died without ever being able to explain to them-
selves how or why they got it.  Some AIDS cases seemingly resulted
from a single sexual contact, though heightened susceptibility of
individuals may be involved here.

This is NOT to criticize at all safe sex guidelines, perhaps even within
a sexually exclusive relationship (Dr. Lundberg is advocating hetero-
sexuality when he advises monogamy: it means "one woman" )=: ).  Every-
one, gay & straight, should also maintain their health & keep informed
about AIDS.

Making pregnancy or marriage depend on a negative test for HTLV-III is
absurd & fascistic, but is not surprising coming from JAMA.

Craig, why print an editorial, particularly that one, instead of a medical
article or a simple pointer to the JAMA issue?

					Cheers,
					Ron Rizzo