In Brief

GAY MEN FACE HIGHER EATING DISORDER RISK

Gay and bisexual men have much higher rates of eating disorders, a US study has found. Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found more than 15 percent of gay and bisexual men had suffered from symptoms of eating disorders at some time, compared to less than five percent of straight men, Men’s Health News reported. Eating disorders were more common among gay men with little connection to the gay community, the study found. There were no reported differences between lesbians and heterosexual women in rates of eating disorders.

COUNCIL TARGETED BY ANTI-GAY LETTERS

Marrickville Council has been the target of an anti-gay letter campaign originating from Queensland. A report from the Council’s gay and lesbian liaison committee told councillors of homophobic letters signed with Queensland addresses criticising the Council’s support for the recent Mardi Gras parade. Responding to the letters, the general manager praised the diversity of the area. The Council had previously come under attack in May last year for allowing one of its childcare centres to carry a book featuring lesbian mothers.

AMA CALLS FOR PHOTOS OF HIV MAN

The Australian Medical Association has called for a picture of a man facing charges for knowingly infecting other South Australian men to be released. The AMA suggested lifting a suppression order on photos of Stuart McDonald because they were in the public interest, as those who had had anonymous sex with him could seek testing. The call comes as a third man -“ this time in Queensland -“ faces a high-profile court case for not disclosing his HIV status. Jamie Michael Richards faced a Brisbane court this week charged with having unprotected sex over the course of a year with his teenage lover, despite knowing he was HIV-positive.

TANYA CALLS FOR HIV CARER ENTRY

Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek and Senator Kerry Nettle joined representatives of Amnesty International and PLHWA in a candlelit protest against John Howard’s call for restrictions on immigration of those with HIV. Plibersek told the crowd of about 60 community members that instead of discrimination, the immigration system needed to be updated for today’s circumstances. Plibersek said in most cases HIV-positive partners could still enter the country after all the pain, heartache and extra expense but a better system was needed than that developed 20 years ago. We shouldn’t automatically exclude people with HIV and we shouldn’t assume that their treatment would be a burden on this country, because modern medical treatment means that people are healthy and live long and productive lives. Plibersek also said people with HIV should be allowed to sponsor a carer to come to this country. Those carers are automatically excluded unless they are a blood relative of the person applying.