Swaziland Parliament member (and founder of music troupe Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors) Timothy Myeni didn’t mean to say he thought anyone who’s HIV-positive should have his butt cheeks branded as such. Well, at least he doesn’t mean it now.
In a devastatingly poor nation with some of the highest levels of HIV, Myeni’s suggestion about branding the infected didn’t take well. Myeni insists it was only a suggestion he made a a health workshop, and it was quickly shot down by health workers.
“I want to disassociate myself from the statement that has been doing rounds in the media saying I suggested that people with HIV should be branded. That is not what I said,” he insists. “I posed a question to the workshop facilitator saying maybe those who have been found with the virus must have a mark so that they can get quick medical attention.”
Along with the explanation, though, comes an apology — after the HIV advocacy organization
Treatment Action Campaign — the most effective of its kind, according to the New York Times — threatened to boycott Myeni’s music. (Interesting how the biggest threat to a public official is his private revenue stream.)
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So does TAC accept Myeni’s apology? Yes, but only on the “condition that he returns to Swaziland and apologises on all media platforms and positively speaks about the prevention and treatment of HIV/ AIDS.” Looks like it worked.
(NB: Interestingly, notes the Swazi Observer, “a clause that seeks to recall incompetent MPs or those who disgrace their communities was rejected by MP Myeni and his colleagues in the House of Assembly back in 2005. The public stand no chance, legally speaking, to recall an MP and SWAPOL’s petition to the Speaker does not have any legal basis in terms of the current Constitution.”)
schlukitz
“those who have been found with the virus must have a mark so that they can get quick medical attention.”
What did he have in mind?
The Devil’s Mark?
Fitz
1) Lets assume the best
2) It’s not the tushy we need to worry about. SO if it’s to warn sex partners, the cock is what needs a mark. If it’s to identify people for help, an ID card might work too.
3) I see many gay guys with “+” tattoos at the gyms. So, in a sense they do it themselves?
schlukitz
@Fitz:
“If it’s to identify people for help, an ID card might work too.”
How about the Star of David for the Jews and pink triangles for the gehys?
and numbers tattooed on the inside of peoples wrists, Jawohl?
Und zo, Herr Fitz, how did you enjoy Mein Kampf?
Phoenix (The One That's A George Takei Fan)
From what they say about Timothy Myeni, his own ass had better be up for tramp stamping first.
Jason
@schlukitz: Throughout history people with highly deadly transmittable diseases have been quarantined and kept from the general public until they no longer are a risk or the disease is cured. With that said how is HIV any different from TB, EBOLA or other potentially contagious diseases? It is transferable to other sexual partners and an arguement could be made that a discreet mark of some sort is a reasonable and certainly more humane method of informing potential sexual partners than a full blown quarantine.
galefan2004
@Jason: What is different is that those people didn’t have the ACLU and other organizations misguided enough to represent their rights. HIV and AIDS are now transmitted solely through sexual intercourse (and most of the time unprotected sexual intercourse) and instead of blaming the person that slept with multiple partners often without protection and ended up with a disease from doing so, we blame anyone that doesn’t get 100% behind the rights of these people. Personally, if I went to a gym that allowed HIV+ to work out with there, I’d find another gym. I never understood why gay men champion the cause of HIV and AIDS. Its not solely a gay disease, but the straights don’t get behind it hardly at all.
schlukitz
@Jason:
You’re comparing apples to oranges. HIV is not transmitted by touching doorknobs, sneezes, by handshakes, and other forms of human contact.
To get infected, you must do something stupid…like risky sex with an infected partner, which includes sharing of bodily fluids, needles and unprotected anal sex. With all the information available, plus free condoms for those who cannot afford them, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever, baring stupidity and unwillingness to listen to reason, why anyone should contact HIV now-a-days.
After all, you don’t lend money to a complete stranger on his promise to pay it back. Why would you let someone stick their unsheathed cock up your ass on his promise that he is HIV- alone? How naive can one be, for crying out loud?
We are living in the 21st Century, not the dark ages. They used to exile people with Leprosy but we stopped doing that because because it made absolutely no sense. People need to start taking some responsibility for their own health and welfare, instead of always looking to the government to do it for them.
Marking human beings, like animals, just because they have HIV, is as stupid an idea, as placing all know homosexuals in quarantine or concentration camps because they spread homosexuality.
And don’t laugh, because there are some lunatic, fringe, “you chose to be homosexual” morons on the loose, who actually believe that and would advocate such heinous actions in a heart-beat, if they could get away with it.
We already have enough government intervention and people telling us what to do and how to live. You want more?
@galefan2004:
Just how were you expecting to catch HIV or AIDS at the gym? By touching a doorknob or the handle of a piece of work-out equipment or perhaps by showing and picking it up from the floor or the shower stall like Athlete’s Foot?
schlukitz
Typo: “showing” should read “showering”
Andramata
@galefan2004: Absolutely! Here in NYC I personally know straight guys and straight women that are living with HIV. they didn’t get it from a DL partner they got it from unprotected sex. Hell I have a friend who’s mother is 56 and contracted the disease from a man she was dating. She only had 3 sex partners in her life. She decided to try the dating after losing her husband. do you want to quarantine an old lady that may never have sex again? Straight people will talk about it more only when it hits home. Again, living in NYC is different. Gay and straight alike all fight for the cause. If you ever been to the AIDS walk you will see that man woman child and dog all walk amongst those living and those that past. That shit would never fly over here. I know it won’t fly over there either but man does it stink!
alice
m sure he meant wel .timothy m yr number 1 fan no matter wat