Deadly myths...

I was horrified and upset to hear of the discrimination faced by a UNISON member by his employer regarding his disability. His disability was HIV... A disability specifically covered under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)...

His employer refuses to make reasonable adjustments for him because he is on medication and his illness has not yet manifested itself. I'm sorry Mr Employer but the DDA specifically covers people with HIV who are on treatment and who show no signs of ill health. Why do we still have to live in this world? Large modern employers still failing to provide adjustments. What is the fear? Why the reluctance? Blatant discrimination, ignorance, hatred, and disregard are the problems.

I wanted to raise the issue of safe sex, sex education, and HIV & AIDS at a health and safety event with my employer. The idea is to be considered but it has not been formally agreed. The response I got from other people is that raising this issue will make people start talking, whispering, and witch hunting???????? WHAT?

Are people worried I am going to 'out' people? What rot. I want to raise awareness within my company and with my members about HIV. I want to wake people up and snap them out of this idea of the 'gay plague'. The vast majority of HIV transmissions are between heterosexual people... and this is where the ignorance is most dangerous.

The equality seminar I attended in Liverpool has charged me up now to fight this ignorance. I no longer want the myth of the 'gay plague' to rest in the conscious of the majority, including those in LGBT community. I intend to raise these issues formally and start a campaign in the workplace to educate staff and management alike.

HIV & AIDS are not issues to be avoided, feared, and disregarded. It's time to dispel the myths...

The concept itself of 'deadly myths' is indeed something i will return to...