HIV-Positive Service Members

As his Feb. 22 letter illustrates, Rep. Robert Dornan (R-Garden Grove) continues to misrepresent the issues regarding the discharge of HIV- positive service members. He has yet to demonstrate that the military supports his efforts. However, Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has stated that he finds the mandatory discharge of all HIV-positive service members to be “unwarranted and unwise” and “unnecessary as a matter of sound military policy.” Lt. Col. Gregory P. Melcher, chairman of the infectious disease department at Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, calls the Dornan provision “ridiculous.” Neither of these officers is a “civilian Clinton appointee . . . imprecisely identified as the ‘Pentagon’.”

Furthermore, Dornan continues to attempt to paint this as a gay issue. He is wrong. Military statistics show that more than half of the HIV-positive service members are married, and many are heterosexual women. They face arbitrarily losing their livelihood despite the fact that most show no symptoms of the virus whatsoever and continue to be judged fit for duty. They also face losing vital health and insurance benefits for themselves and their families.

Moreover, the debate over HIV/AIDS should be beyond characterizing it as a “gay” disease. Dornan’s insistent use of such rhetoric continues to result in unfair stigmatization of HIV-positive individuals and serves as an excuse for antigay bigots to remain comfortable in their lack of compassion for those living with the virus.

KIRK CHILDRESS

Servicemembers Legal

Defense Network, Washington