Comments on: AIDS 2012: HIV/AIDS activists heckle Gray at Global Village http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/07/23/aids-2012-hivaids-activists-heckle-gray-at-global-village/ the gay community's news source Thu, 23 May 2013 20:58:02 +0000 hourly 1 By: Perseus http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/07/23/aids-2012-hivaids-activists-heckle-gray-at-global-village/#comment-59219 Perseus Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:10:38 +0000 http://www.washingtonblade.com/?p=46089#comment-59219 @ Rosenstein: you forgot to add *the media* needs to do more as well to develop some helpful and creative conversations about how to encourage the general public to take better care of personal health and spiritual needs and hold electeds, agency officials, and clergy leader’s feet to the fire about addressing the epidemic. But that doesn’t make sexy headlines and would require that reporters work harder.

“More than a dozen [IGNORANT, MISINFORMED, MISGUIDED] HIV/AIDS activists on Monday heckled Mayor Vincent Gray as he spoke at the International AIDS Conference’s Global Village. …”

First rule of being an effective activist is:
GET YOUR FACTS AND INFORMATION *STRAIGHT* BEFORE OPENING MOUTH PUTTING FOOT IN IT.

When foolish people denigrate their allies — indeed, greater more effective and knowledgeable HIV/AIDS pioneers like Gray — those activists do more to harm the cause than anyone else. This cause needs smart people willing and able to work together, not a bunch of screeching idiots waving signs.

Ironically, though the local infection rates rival those of third-world rural communities, DC residents have greater access to information, advice, care givers and treatment than most people on the planet. Yet too many of those suffering from HIV/AIDS — gay men, African and Latino men and women — refuse to take the regime of medicine that is proven to keep them healthy and those yet to be infected refuse to practice safe — enjoyable — sex. It’s not that hard really. What’s so sexy about sex and drug habits that rob people of their health, esteem, fitness, joy and make life more difficult than it is?

]]> By: Peter Rosenstein http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/07/23/aids-2012-hivaids-activists-heckle-gray-at-global-village/#comment-59169 Peter Rosenstein Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:58:31 +0000 http://www.washingtonblade.com/?p=46089#comment-59169 Interesting to heckle the Mayor who has done more to combat this epidemic than the previous two Mayors. This Mayor is committed to this and has been since the 80s. Yes the City needs to do more as do all cities and the federal government- and yes the clergy need to do more -and yes private citizens need to do more -and yes people also need to take more responsibility for their own health and education to avoid getting HIV. It is only if everyone works together that we will conquer this scourge.

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