from Medical Issues

A report in The Electric New Paper (July 11, 2005) notes that "Because of the cloak of secrecy which surrounds people with HIV and the sensitivity of the positions of our sources are in, we cannot confirm an exact number. The numbers that have come up range from three to five."

According to the New Paper, one of the volunteers found out he was HIV positive just three months ago. All discovered their HIV status when they underwent anonymous testing at a clinic run by AFA.

One source told the paper that there is a possibility that many of the volunteers who are working in HIV education are doing so to meet other gay men. As the source noted: "There have been times when one of the volunteers is counseling on the phone and I notice that he talking on the phone for a very long time. By that time, I know they are not so much counseling as getting to know the other person on the other end of the line."

The anonymous source also told the paper that he believes that younger gay males aren't afraid of HIV because they haven't seen the suffering of older patients who are infected. In addition, many HIV-infected gays fly to Bangkok for cheap drugs and come back looking healthy. In addition, says this source, the clubbing scene and the use of recreational drugs also contribute to unsafe and random sexual activities.

The New Paper interviewed one of the men who worked as an AFA volunteer but who is now HIV positive. According to this former volunteer, he has had 20 different sexual partners and condom use was considered optional. With his fourth sexual liaison, the man began having completely unprotected sex and discovered he was infected. He has not had sex for a year and a half since discovering he was HIV positive.

The Action for AIDS organization has published a rebuttal to the Electric New Paper article: "AfA debunks allegations in The New Paper."