Gay Games: HIV+ Athletes May Face Ban

[The Straight Story]

Gay Games: HIV+ Athletes May Face Ban

A conservative group in the US is pressuring authorities to prevent HIV-positive athletes from being able to enter the country to compete in the 7th Gay Games in Chicago this July. Travellers are usually required to declare their HIV status when applying to enter the US, and HIV positive tourists must complete additional immigration procedures.

The ban is usually lifted as a matter of course for major events and conferences. The Department of Homeland Security granted the Gay Games Designated Event Status earlier this year, short-circuiting usual HIV declaration procedures, enabling travellers to not declare their status.

The Illinois Family Institute has urged Homeland Security to repeal the designation on the grounds that HIV+ travellers pose a public health threat. Furthermore, a men’s bathhouse is one of the Games’ sponsors, which, according to the Institute, promotes “reckless sexual behaviour” and “pave the way for spreading” HIV.

Chicago’s Mayor Richard Daley and Illinois Democrat Jan Schakowsky have both urged Homeland Security to retain the waiver. Gay Games Co-Vice Chair Kevin Boyer said linking the games to the spread of HIV was “abhorrent and irresponsible… fear-mongering.”

http://www.gaynz.com/news/default.asp?dismode=article&artid=3345

[MADem]

1. Now wait a damn minute...didn't Magic Johnson compete in the

Olympics when he was +???? Why, sumbitch, he sure DID!!!! http://www.nba.com/history/players/johnsonm_bio.html

Before the 1991-92 campaign Johnson stunned the world with the announcement that he had tested positive for the HIV virus and was retiring from the NBA. He made a triumphant appearance at the All-Star Game that season, however, earning the game's MVP Award and leading the West to a 153-113 victory. He also began a campaign to promote AIDS awareness, an effort for which he received the league's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

Johnson went on to play for the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team, write a book about safe sex, run several businesses he had started as a player, work for NBC as a television commentator and explore the possibility of purchasing an NBA franchise. With 16 games left to play in the 1993-94 season, he replaced Randy Pfund as the head coach of the Lakers...

So, what's going on here? Apparently OUR athletes are no problem, it's only them 'furrin' ones that are at issue....?????

[baby_mouse]

2. Considering how good the drugs are these days

I'm amazed there's still this stupid stigma attached to HIV. Apparently it's not that much more dangerous than diabetes.

[sui generis]

3. astonishing really

hydrostatic pressure means that people tend to bleed OUT. That means in the absence of a needle or direct contact with the circulatory system it's virtually impossible to get infected by someone bleeding ON you, even if YOU have an open wound for some bizarre reason.

Most athletes tend not to bleed at all, and blood products at sporting events are scrupulously cleaned immediately even when everyone is absolutely healthy.

The Department of Homeland Security should go right ahead and ban athletes - it will give the issue and the homophobes EXACTLY the wrong kind of coverage, as well as ensure that the Games will never be held in the U.S. again.

Nevermind that it practically begs mandatory testing in customs for EVERYONE entering the U.S., including returning U.S. citizens . . .