Opposites Both Attract Applause in AIDS Debate

They were polar opposites.

On one side was Rep. William E. Dannemeyer, the conservative Republican congressman from Fullerton who believes homosexuality is against God’s plan, blames homosexuals for the spread of AIDS and wants mandatory testing for the AIDS virus.

On the other was Werner Kuhn, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Service Center of Orange County, who believes acquired immune deficiency syndrome is not a “gay disease” and is vehemently opposed to the mandatory testing.

They attracted so many students to their debate Monday at Fullerton College that nearly 250 had to be turned away. But the 300 who packed the Student Activities Center witnessed a lively 90-minute give-and-take that focused on AIDS testing, but quickly expanded to include everything from gay rights to whether AIDS can be spread by mosquitoes.

Dannemeyer repeated many of his views on AIDS, calling for mandatory testing of prisoners, convicted drug abusers, new hospital patients ages 15-49 and all marriage license applicants.

He called AIDS “the first politically protected disease in the history of this country” and said a powerful gay lobby had prevented public health officials from requiring that those infected with the deadly virus report to them.

But Kuhn insisted that there was no sense reporting those who test positive for the virus when there is no treatment or cure for those infected.

Money spent for an estimated $20-million mandatory testing program in California would be better spent on AIDS research, Kuhn said. He said mandatory testing is unacceptable until there are laws preventing discrimination against those testing positive for the virus.

As to Dannemeyer’s claim that a gay lobby is setting health policy in California, Kuhn retorted: “It ain’t so.”

Respected public health officials, including Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and the American Medical Assn., have come up with the guidelines, Kuhn said.

Kuhn did call for expanding confidential and voluntary testing for the AIDS virus to as many as 10 public clinics from Fullerton to Mission Viejo.

The Orange County Health Care Agency operates a single clinic in Santa Ana that offers free testing for AIDS. “We need much more widespread availability of anonymous and confidential testing sites all over Orange County,” Kuhn said.

But, he said, that testing must remain voluntary until anti-discrimination laws are on the books, or until those who might test positive “will be afraid that there will be a record somewhere--that they’ll lose their job, that they’ll lose their insurance.”

‘Light Rather Than Heat’

Both Dannemeyer and Kuhn were applauded during their sometimes-heated but always-cordial debate. Afterward, several students said they were impressed with both men’s views.

“I was surprised by the lack of acrimony and degree of light--rather than heat--spread by the exchange,” said moderator Carl Schwartz, a Fullerton College political science professor.

Freshman Andrea Stupin, 19, said she understood Kuhn’s concerns about discrimination but agreed with Dannemeyer on mandatory testing.

“That’s how wives are getting it (AIDS)--husbands going out on them and they don’t know it,” Stupin said.

A friend, Dax Spiros, 19, also supported mandatory testing: “If I have sexual relations, I want to be able to look into a directory. If she (a girlfriend) is in there, that’s it. No way (no relationship).”

Across the country, public health officials, gay activists and politicians are deeply divided over the testing issue.

California physicians who encounter an active AIDS case must now report the patient to public health officials. Orange County public health officials also require reporting for those with AIDS-Related Complex, the group of illnesses in which patients have some symptoms of AIDS such as swollen lymph glands and tumors.

But since 1985, California doctors have been prohibited by state law from reporting patients who test positive for the AIDS virus--but not for AIDS or ARC--without the patients’ consent, county AIDS coordinator Penny C. Weismuller said Monday.

‘Politically Protected’

In legislation and speeches, Dannemeyer has lobbied to change this, saying traditional public policy on communicable diseases demands mandatory reporting of those who have the virus.

“Why are the politicians sticking their nose in the tent of the medical people?” Dannemeyer asked the students, then answered: “(Because) we Americans are dealing with the first politically protected disease in the history of this country.”

In California since March, 1983, AIDS has been included along with whooping cough, botulism and gonorrhea on a list of communicable diseases that must be reported, Dannemeyer noted.

But because of the 1985 law, “the virus for AIDS is not,” he said.

Dannemeyer said an estimated “220,000 to 800,000” Americans have the AIDS virus “coursing through their veins, . . . and 90% of them don’t know they have the disease. They’re not accountable to the public health system in any way. And I think that’s a tragedy.”

He said 70% of those with the virus go on to develop AIDS or a related AIDS illness; Kuhn countered that the number was actually 30%.

Dannemeyer also criticized the homosexual life style, blaming it for causing AIDS: “The genus of the AIDS virus is anyone who practices promiscuous or perverse sex. I’m talking about sodomy.”