|
AIDS Action Council
AIDS Action Celebrates Repeal Of Hiv Military Ban As The End Of Sad Chapter In History Of AIDS Epidemic
Statement of Jay Coburn, Legislative Representative
April 25, 1996 For information, contact:
Jose Zuniga, (202) 986-1300, Ext. 3042
The fight to defeat the military HIV ban, both as a community and as a nation, was not an easy one to wage -- it took coalition-building and the strong support of a Congress and of a nation which, once educated about the extremist and un-American nature of Rep. Dornan's provision, made known their desire to right the grievous wrong committed against these patriotic men and women. AIDS Action applauds the leadership of Sens. Mark Hatfield (R-Ore.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), William Cohen (R-Maine), and Reps. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), Peter Torkildsen (R-Mass.), Ron Dellums (D-Calif.) and Constance Morella (R-Md.), who heard their constituents' voices and waged a brave battle against the ugly and extremist fringes of American society. While we are elated at the victory realized today, we cannot help but think that this fight could have been easily avoided. An extremist provision such as the military HIV ban, especially when championed by someone who today attributes congressional action against his provision to "misunderstood mercy," should never have been legislated in the first place. AIDS Action urges Congress to remember the unfortunate lessons learned in fighting to defeat one man's campaign against people living with HIV/AIDS -- a campaign that eventually resulted in the codification of discrimination against a select group of Americans. This must never happen again. For more information, contact
AIDS HIV Issues/Policy/AIDS Action Alerts and Press Releases
This article was provided by AIDS Action Council. |
|
