Brown: Cut off AIDS funding

State Rep. Larry Brown said during a discussion of his legislative goals for the year that the government should not spend money to treat adults with HIV or AIDS who "caused it by the way they live."

Brown, R-Forsyth, made the comments when asked by the Winston-Salem Journal to talk about his goals for the N.C. General Assembly session set to begin this month.

He began by discussing his support for a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to a union between one man and one woman, which would forestall any efforts to allow same-sex marriage.

He went on to say he thinks the government shouldn't spend money to treat HIV among people "living in perverted lifestyles."

"I'm not opposed to helping a child born with HIV or something, but I don't condone spending taxpayers' money to help people living in perverted lifestyles," said Brown, who ran unopposed in the November election to win a fourth term.

Brown wouldn't say Tuesday what he considers perverted, but did say that adults who get HIV through sexual behavior or drugs would be among those who should not be treated at government expense.

Asked how he would feel about the government paying for diseases caused by smoking, Brown said he felt the same as for HIV because smokers "choose to do that on their own."

Katherine Foster, the president of AIDS Care Service in Winston-Salem, called Brown's remarks "fiscally and socially irresponsible." She said the remarks highlight "his ignorance on this major public-health issue."

"What Representative Brown can't seem to get through his mind is that HIV disease … affects individuals regardless of age, race and sexual orientation," Foster said. "Without funding for HIV, the disease is at risk for reaching pandemic levels, just as it has in countries that do not provide government funding for HIV-AIDS."

Wanda Moss, a Winston-Salem woman who contracted AIDS in a heterosexual relationship that she thought was monogamous, said she'd like to talk with Brown, who she thinks may be "speaking out of fear."

"I am not a perverted person," she said. "There is a misconception, and part of that lingers from fear of homosexuality. In the beginning stages of HIV, that was the predominant way of spreading, but as men with men and women started infecting women, it started spreading in a different manner — in what the woman may have thought was an exclusive relationship. Any human being who is engaging in any sexual activity is at risk."

Brown drew criticism in October for an e-mail he sent to other state Republican lawmakers in which he used disparaging language about gays. After lawmakers were told about a legislative leadership award being given to then-House Speaker Joe Hackney, Brown sent his e-mail to House Minority Leader Paul Stam saying: "I hope all the queers are thrilled to see him. I am sure there will be a couple legislative fruitloops there in the audience."

Brown said Tuesday he's not trying to say how people should lead their lives but that it is a higher priority to treat people who have diseases "with no fault of their own." He said he doesn't oppose those with HIV or AIDS getting treatment, but he doesn't think the government should pay for it.

"I think people with HIV have legitimate fears and probably need support, but when it comes down to priorities, my priorities would be in other directions," he said.

Rep. Dale Folwell, a Winston-Salem lawmaker who represents the 74th District in the N.C. House, declined to discuss Brown's remarks about HIV.

"I don't have any comment on that," said Folwell, who is slated to be the new speaker pro tem when the House convenes Jan. 26. "I just work on the things that I work on, and that takes all I have."

Rep. Bill McGee, a Republican who represents the 75th District in Forsyth County, said, "People who are sick need care."

"While I may not agree with the lifestyles which contribute to the sickness taking place, if a person is sick and has no recourse or any way to get help other than being on some program, then perhaps we will have to do that," McGee said.

Bob Whitwam, the interim director of health in Forsyth County, said HIV "is a medical condition that deserves treatment, regardless of anyone's lifestyle."

"It would be a shame if we started to ration medical care based on anyone's lifestyle," Whitwam said.

wyoung@wsjournal.com

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