THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507200003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Sen. Jesse Helms is exactly right to speak out against large sums for AIDS funding (news, July 6). Although gay-advocacy groups have been hysterical in their attempts to scare the general public into thinking that anyone can get AIDS, data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that 91 percent of all AIDS cases in the United States involve male homosexuals and intravenous drug users. White, non-Hispanic women account for only 3 percent of AIDS cases. The rate falls even lower for women (all races) when there has been no involvement with drugs or drug users.
AIDS is the leading cause of death only for African-American males aged 25 to 44. The statement that AIDS is the leading cause of death for all men and women from 25 to 44 is erroneous.
I have sympathy for anyone who contracts AIDS through a blood transfusion or other innocent ways, but for the rest, I agree with Senator Helms when he says it is their ``deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct'' that is responsible for their disease. Senator Helms is to be congratulated for speaking the truth and not being intimidated.
BEN EVANS
Virginia Beach, July 7, 1995 by CNB