Rebutting Hendrik

To the Editor:

I am replying to Mr. Hendrik's letter in the last few issues of the Imprint. Although the last letter refered to many statistics and other numbers, I will not go into those as I do not have information on the studies done myself, or how reliable they may be. However, as long as we are talking numbers, I would like to point out a few more. In regards to gay males being the 'primary carriers' in North America, while they may be true, it should however be pointed out that currently they are seeing a lowered percentage increase in new cases, while heterosexual women are currently seeing the highest percentage increase. Why not then apply the same arguments to this group? I will also concede the point that there may be some disparity between the funding for AIDS and other health areas such as cardiovascular research for such conditions related to smoking. However there is one very large difference in the type of disease that must also be considered. While true there isn't yet a cure for either condition, if left to their own devices AIDS and HIV would run rampant through the Western population the same as in underdeveloped countries and infect everyone, whereas heart disease is not nearly as virulent. In regards to such groups as Homosexuals Anonymous or NewDirection for Life or other such 'homosexual reform' groups, it has been shown that they have a very low success rate. Studies have been done in which third party independent researchers have contacted people who have gone through the program and been 'cured'. What they found was: 1) The average 'cure' lasted two months before a 'relapse', 2) A very high percentage of those who didn't relapse led celibate lives. However, of those who did 'relapse', a very high percentage of them now identify as bisexual instead of homosexual. As was cautioned before however, when referring to statistics and other sources that deal mainly with numbers, it is a good idea to look beyond the numbers alone, and attempt to find a reason behind them.

Back | Index | Forward

Send comments to: kovu at lionking point org