Gay Today: World

5,000 Scientists & Doctors
Critique HIV Denialists

Compiled by GayToday

AIDS denialists from ACT UP/San Francisco

Durban, South Africa—In advance of the International AIDS Conference scheduled to begin here July 9th, 5,000 scientists and physicians worldwide have signed a declaration opposing HIV “revisionist” theories. The declaration has been published in Nature, a British science magazine.

AIDS, says the Durban Declaration, is caused by HIV infections.

The declaration has been signed by the directors of top research institutions, scientific academies and medical associations. Nobel prize-winners are also among the signatories. Persons working for commercial enterprises were asked not to sign.

A spokesperson for South African President Thabo Mbeki indicated that the President believes the declaration to be a political attack on him. He promised that the president would trash the document if scientists attempted to present him with it prior to next week's AIDS conference.

At the same time that news of the declaration was surfacing, San Francisco's newspapers noted with alarm that HIV infections among gay males have nearly tripled in that city since 1997. San Francisco's HIV denialists dispute the reported increase, however, insisting that it is a falsehood publicized to insure continuing profits among drug companies and their "AIDS industry" cohorts.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Larry Kramer: Denial of HIV by Groups is 'Psychopathic'

ACT UP Dissidents Emerge in San Francisco & Hollywood

San Francisco AIDS Denialists Disrupt Treatment Meeting

Related Sites:
Nature Magazine

ACT UP/San Francisco

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The Durban Declaration says:

"HIV causes AIDS. It is unfortunate that a few vocal people continue to deny the evidence. This position will cost countless lives.”

"Like many other viruses, HIV recognizes no social, political or geographical boundaries...to tackle the disease, everyone must first understand that HIV is the enemy. Research, not myths, will lead to the development of more effective and cheaper treatments, and, it is hoped, a vaccine," the statement said.