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Letters to the Editor
New Zealand, decriminalising buggery and MSM
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Dear Editor,
In his letter of August 17, Mr Maurice Tomlinson berated Mrs Betty Ann Blaine for suggesting a link between family life and abstinence education and control of HIV/AIDS. He then urged emulation of the New Zealand approach of decriminalising buggery for control of HIV, claiming that there were only 19 new cases of HIV in New Zealand, in 2009.
In contrast, data from the AIDS Epidemiology Group, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin in New Zealand published on the New Zealand Ministry of Health website, indicate that "151 people were diagnosed with HIV through antibody testing in 2009".
This figure is down from an all-time high of 183 in 2008, but the group claims that "it is too soon to determine if there is a definite downward trend in diagnosis".
The data also indicate that men who have sex with men (MSM) are the most affected group, that the number of new cases among MSM was similar to what obtained in 2006, 2007 and that new cases continue to occur among MSM.
New Zealand decriminalised buggery in 1986 and the age of consent for homosexuals is the same as that for heterosexuals - 16 years.
Why are most cases of HIV in New Zealand occuring among MSM?
What explains the peak in the diagnosis of cases of HIV among MSM in New Zealand 23 years after the legalisation of homosexuality?
W West
wayne_west@hotmail.com
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8/19/2010
Cont: what Mr Maurice Tomlinson is aiming for. Rising rates of infection in MSM may be attributed to a complex set of BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL and SOCIO-ECONOMIC factors, there4 singling out MSM to somehow implicitly show that repealing the buggery law is futile, does not prove anything. If the infection rate among MSM has more or less stayed constant after legislation, it's an indication that it would possibly be higher if this legislation wasn't in effect.
Plus more countries need 2b examined.
8/19/2010
The only way this problem can truly be tackled is with a collection of different solutions. Repealing the buggery law is just 1 of those and might i add a big part. This however needs to be coupled with other solutions, such as the 1 oulined by Betty ann Blake. Similarly, Ms Blake's proposition is immensely insufficient and down right crazy if she thinks thats going to single-handedly retard the spread of Hiv/Aids. As for New Zealand, the Hiv/Aids rate is relatively low and i think that is....
8/19/2010
The devastating consequences to ones health of the homosexual lifestyle is one fact that gay activists and supporters love to minimize or conveniently omit. Study after study has shown that rates of AIDS, other STD's, colon and rectal cancer, and hepatitis are significantly higher among those who engage in homosexual behaviour.
.
They can call you homophobic and try to take away your right to free speech but the facts speak for themselves.
8/19/2010
With less than 0.1% of New Zealands entire population infected (and they are almost double our population) , I'm trying to figure just how relevant your argument is when Jamaica "boasts" that 1.6% of its population is infected with HIV.
A rather disingenuous use of statistics Mr. West! At least NZ can present accurate statistics, and implement appropriate prevention campaigns for target populations . We continue to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that it will all go away.
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