HIV deniers
I read an article in Elle magazine about a woman that is HIV positive who is part of this group that believes that HIV does not cause AIDS, and that AIDS is not fatal or incurable. She had two children after she was diagnosed; her son is negative, but her 3 year old daughter died last year of what coroners diagnosed as PCP and other symptoms of pediatric AIDS, but her own alternative medicine doctor claims it was an allergic reaction to amoxicillin.
The article was weird enough, but going to the website of the group she runs was definitely disconcerting. Alternative medicine is one thing, but they believe 99.5% of Africans don't have AIDS, 75% of mothers don't transmit HIV to their children (and therefore, refuse testing and treatment for their children) and even claim that what is called AIDS is actually the result of taking HIV medications.
It's...definitely interesting.
Alive & Well: AIDS Alternatives
So is she in deep denial or is she just really, really stupid?
orange this is nothing new....if I recall some ACT-UP members believed this at one time, and some still do.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
The first time I heard about these people was about five or so years ago in a Mother Jones article I've linked below.
I'm all for asking questions and I'm all about believing whatever it is you need to believe to get through the day, but this line of thinking is so dangerous that it actually makes my body tense up when I read things about it. As a sexually active gay man who has been involved HIV positive men and lost friends to AIDS, I'm still going to err on the side of caution and believe that it can be transmitted via sexual activity continue to practice safe sex and get my quarterly HIV test.
I'm no shrink either, but my professional opinion of anyone who doesn't believe that HIV is a virus that can be transmitted sexually or that HIV doesn't cause AIDS is as crazy as a sh-t-house rat.
Foo Fighters, HIV Deniers
Elphaba, the article did say it had been around for awhile. The group this woman runs is looking to start a support group in Zambia- a country where the average lifespan is under 30 due to AIDS and myths like sleeping with a virgin will cure you are still widely believed. It's dangerous enough in America, but in a sub-Saharan country, the potential is devastating.
ah, that is, of course, different skittles.....
Also, the world is flat and tomatoes are poisonus.
... and Michael Jackson is black.
I wonder if Tom Cruise believes this?
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
I think it was Di2.
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