The paradox of prejudice
There are three (count 'em) themes for World Aids Day this
year. Confused? We are. Number one, Cilla, is the global "I care
- do you?" theme. It's mainly a plea for young people with HIV to
get involved in telling others not to do as they did.
Number two is last year's UK theme rejigged: "Out of sight, out of
mind". A plea not to get complacent about Aids.
Number three is "Are you HIV prejudiced?" An anti-stigma campaign,
it would have been this year's UK theme had bureaucratic shenanigans in
the Department of Health not delayed its full launch till January.
The confusion about the themes is mirrored by confusion about their purpose.
Who are they aimed at? Number one seems to be aimed at people with HIV.
It begs two answers: "Yes of course I care, I've got Aids you idiot"
or "No, I just want to take my HIV pills and have a normal life."
Number two doesn't seem to know. Does it tick off positive people for
trying not to brood on their status every minute of the day (and sometimes
omitting to tell partners about it)? Or is it about generating enough
anxiety in the HIV negative that they'll start using condoms?
Number three, 'Are you HIV prejudiced?' seems aimed at the HIV negative.
And, as Jack Summerside [see
here], if you talk to everyone as if they're negative, "it can
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bring the unintended outcome of reinforcing the idea that [people with with
