Letters to the Editor

HIV MINDSET
Re: ‘ACON celebrates a milestone birthday’ (SSO 1035).

I congratulate ACON on this milestone and they have, over the years, done great work.

I have been HIV+ for over 22 years and I have never once needed assistance because of my HIV diagnosis either medically (apart from my daily tablets) or mentally.

My condition is controlled with my daily meds and I feel fit and fabulous.

Times are changing and gay men’s health services are still locked in an HIV mindset.

HIV will not kill me — old age and other illnesses probably will.

ACON’s current tagline is ‘Building our communities’ Health and Wellbeing’.

Last year I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed an operation to remove my cancerous prostate.

Now all you gay men out there, think about it. Gay male sex and prostates sort of go hand in hand. There are also some rather intense permanent side effects from this particular operation that can greatly affect what happens in the bedroom.

I needed information about prostate cancer/ gay men and what I could expect. I thought of ACON as their website talked about gay men’s health.

ACON staff suggested I speak with a counsellor. Nothing else, no information — zilch.

In the end I did my own research and located a book specifically written for gay men facing this particular cancer. I also located a brillant group on Yahoo groups,

mainly USA men, but they had been there and done that with this cancer and the side effects. The information from both this book and this online group were vitally important.

After my recovery I called ACON and spoke with a staff member and forwarded the results of my research in the hope that the next time a gay man diagnosed with prostate cancer tries to find information and turns to ACON, ACON’s staff would have this information available at their fingertips or at least online.

I have noted over the last 10 months that on the ACON website under the section ‘Men’s Health’ and then under ‘Cancer’ there is still no mention of any cancer except testicular.

Yes, ACON have done amazing work, however, HIV is not going to kill me. Other illnesses will and it’s time organisations like ACON started addressing this fact.

It doesn’t take that much time for the web designer to add a line of information to a web page and update it so the information is current, correct and useful.
— William

PRAISING TRUTH
Thank you SSO for being willing to criticise a big advertiser like New Mardi Gras when you see due cause.

I love New Mardi Gras and most things they do, but I love truth and honesty even more.
— Craig

RIGHT OF REPLY
Not only was SSO a target at the Mardi Gras AGM, but also myself, in respect of the Stand Down motion, which was based around a fight for accurate accounting, one I lost badly.

I refute the assertion there was no handover when I resigned as treasurer in May 2009. The then CEO and I had engaged — and paid — Pitcher Partners to provide monthly reporting to the board and I spent some time showing them what was required.

My interest here is to ensure that New Mardi Gras has in place proper and accurate accounting records to ensure transparency for the membership.

I spent considerable time and effort bringing together simple and accurate accounting for the organisation which I had hoped would be continued.

Such accuracy and transparency is vital for a membership-based organisation posting a $575,000 loss. I would hope the membership takes from this a heavier interest in their organisation and seeks out more detailed information about New Mardi Gras’ finances and how their money is being spent.

The board is, after all, elected to represent the membership, not serve any particular individual’s agenda.

I offer my best wishes to the incoming NMG Board and wish the organisation a successful and profitable season in 2011.
— Michael Douglas

ACHIEVING MORE
Discrimination and vilification of the queer community go wider and deeper than simply marriage rights.

Paul (Letters, SSO 1036) asks why, if all states and territories have anti-gay discrimination laws, we cannot go to court to challenge discriminatory marriage laws.

The Constitution says in s51 (xxi) that the states have no place to make such legislation. Further, even if they could, s109 says that to the extent of the question and the federal laws made pursuant to s51(xxi), the state legislation would be invalid.

What that means is that we need to support the legislative changes that have been made in NSW and federally by Labor to remove discrimination directly.

On a federal level we need to be looking at a Bill of Rights and a federal Anti-Discrimination Act (promised by Labor, the Liberals and others) that prohibits all discrimination on a federal level.

At the moment only sex, age, disability and racial discrimination are prohibited federally.

If we start to look at the ways in which our community suffers more broadly, celebrate what has been achieved so far and build on that. Then we’ll end up achieving so much more.
— Richard

WINNING RAMS
Congratulations to the Sydney Rams tenpin bowlers who competed in the Gay Games and came home with a swag of gold medals!
Well done.
— King