Navratilova Says There Is AIDS Double Standard

Martina Navratilova avoided attention Wednesday, one day after telling a New York tabloid that if she had contracted AIDS, the public would say, “I had it coming.”

The New York Post quoted Navratilova in its Wednesday editions as saying the public’s response would have been much different if it had been her instead of Magic Johnson who announced a positive test for HIV.

Navratilova was in New York for the Virginia Slims Championships and told reporters, through the Madison Square Garden office, that she might make a further statement today, but that she would remain silent until then.

She did, however, confirm that the Post story accurately represented her feelings.

The Post spoke with her after a workout Tuesday. She was asked how people would respond if she had made such an announcement.

Johnson retired from the Lakers on Nov. 7 after announcing his infection.

“If it had happened to a heterosexual woman who had been with 100 or 200 men, they’d call her a whore and a slut, and the corporations would drop her like a lead balloon,” Navratilova said.

“And she’d never get a job in her life. It’s a very big-time double standard, and it’s frightening because it’s happening. I could give you some other examples, but I don’t want to get anybody in trouble.

“When it comes to promiscuity, it’s very much accepted (among men). And women are banished. It’s incredible, but it’s alive and well.”

While Johnson has said he wants to preach safe sex to young people, Navratilova said his situation is full of wrong messages, adding:

“What I don’t understand is that like, Magic says he was just trying to accommodate these women. That is just terrible. Just think about the word. He’s preaching the wrong message. He’s saying it’s OK to be promiscuous as long as you use a condom. That’s not good.

“It’s sad. What does it say for you? Ayn Rand says in her writing, you are who you sleep with. Who you surround yourself with, your friends and your lovers. What does it say for these men who hop in bed with a woman every five minutes? It’s sad that these women throw themselves in bed, but that doesn’t mean he should do that. Be a gentleman. Have some self-respect.”

Is American society accepting Navratilova’s lifestyle?

“I think the general public is, but the corporations certainly are not. I don’t have one damn endorsement outside of rackets and shoes.

“I had a very good endorsement possibility--this is about five, six, seven years ago--and everything was going great. Yes, we’re going to do it. And it finally came up to the (company) president, and he says, ‘No because she’s gay--no go.’

“Meantime, a month later, a scandal breaks out. His daughter’s having an affair with a married man. It’s all over the papers, but that’s OK.”