Letters to the editor – Sydney

Letters to the editor – Sydney

ONE-OFF CURE

While I commend anyone who dedicates themselves to trying to find a cure for HIV or any terminal illness or disease, this is not a realistic cure per se. (‘First man cured of HIV,’ Star Online)

This was a ‘one-off’ treatment which just so happened to have a fantastic result and was worthy of reporting. Imagine the impossible logistical needs of trying to get this treatment to East Timor, Papua New Guinea or some places in Africa where there isn’t even electricity. In many places around the world, medications that cost less than $US1 a day, are not affordable and therefore not even a way of keeping HIV in check.

Before a medical journal reports this as a ‘cure’ or even indicates it as a ‘possible cure’, it needs to be able to be seen as a viable solution with can be provided to all men, women and children with HIV across the world regardless of geo/economic situations.

There is little benefit in finding a solution for the ‘Western’ societies and leaving tens of thousands to die in the ‘Third World’. If HIV is left anywhere on our planet, it will still remain a major risk to all of humanity.

Every day small children are dying — a ‘cure’ must be a ‘cure for all’ not just for the rich.

Ten points for this outcome and it’s worth recognition but we must not think a cure is only around the corner if this is the only way. It’s been 30 years and HIV is still here.

— Scott

DIVERSITY IN DEFENCE

The Department of Defence is also a member of Pride in Diversity (‘IBM tops Pride in Diversity Awards,’ SSO 1073).

How come they didn’t make the top 10, I wonder?

— Bridget

SYDNEY ANGLICANS

The Anglican Diocese is unique in fighting other Anglicans, (‘Anglicans try to stop marriage rally,’ SSO 1073) and people of other religions, let alone us, and the role of women in religion.

Recently, they have sided with Uganda, in a conservative push that many say will split the church, resulting in this diocese being aligned with many conservative African churches.

Rev Phillip Jensen provoked anger across religious communities by publicly declaring that “wrong” religions are “the monstrous lies and deceits of Satan”. I remember the cold angry responses from people of the Jewish faith, the Catholic faith, Muslims, Buddhists, and many Christians including Anglicans.

— Dave

PM SHOULD MEET AME

I think supporting or not supporting gay marriage is a choice that a politician can make. (‘PM accepts anti-marriage letter,’ Star Online)

However, refusing a meeting sought through the correct channels with no ill intent, other than the intent to propose a change in that politician’s position on an issue in a polite, calm way, is not right.

Gay people like me pay taxes and deserve access to the mechanisms of government supported by those taxes as long as they intend to act lawfully and respectfully.

— Katie

MAJOR FAILURE

The worst part is that thousands of LGBTI people support the Labor Party out of some misguided belief that the voiceless minority of ALP ministers will deliver marriage equality against the righter-than-right head and shoulders of the current ALP regime (‘PM accepts anti-marriage letter,’ Star Online).

Where will the ALP head get support from? The Opposition, of course. Where would the real power lie in levering equality through? On the cross-bench of course.

But so many of the gay community ignorantly turn their backs on Independents and Greens. If that’s you, then you’ve bought a lie.

If you support same-sex marriage, next time you have Independents or Greens running at local, state or federal level, get off your Labor-Liberal high horses.

— Michael

HISTORY ON OUR SIDE

The vast majority of Australians are united in our determination to choose our own destiny (‘Marriage fight turns nasty,’ Star Online).

Within 10 years we will have full equality, and those who stand against our civil rights will be placed in the same narrow corners of history as those who stood against the civil rights of people who were not white.

We are simply asking for our right to live as freely as the next person. We seek full equality before the laws of this country, to have the same civil rights as any other person. We want no more, and we expect no less.

The opposition against our civil rights is from a tiny minority. They are but small bumps along the Yellow Brick Road and easily defeated with facts.

To quote from a great man who understood discrimination, the Nobel Peace Prize-winner and Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “To penalise someone because of their sexual orientation is like what used to happen to us; to be penalised for something which we could do nothing [about] — our ethnicity, our race. I would find it quite unacceptable to condemn, persecute a minority that has already been persecuted.”

— Dave

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