Information on Loughborough
News Index
2012
May 2012Apr 2012
Mar 2012
Feb 2012
Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
NHS Manager stigmatizes HIV Sufferers
The American writer Ambrose Bierce once said "Hypocrisy is prejudice with a halo." It seems rather apt therefore that in the procession at this years Brighton Gay Pride whose theme was "Pride and No Prejudice" were many people who outwardly speak of tolerance and acceptance, however inwardly think and frequently act with extreme prejudice.
Pride started off as a protest, but now it is an excuse for egotism (VIP passes a private tent with champagne? Where is the Pride in that?), capitalist profit, drunkenness and sex. Furthermore there is always an obligatory faded 80's star murmuring out a "camp classic" who are way past their hayday However there are still important messages to convey. This year there was a group highlighting the need to stamp out stigma in relation to HIV. The group involved should be proud for the courage and determination they showed. The stigma of HIV is still a problem and especially so within the gay community.
A similar size group was that for the NHS with member from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
To the bystander, any problems in equality and diversity in the NHS especially in Brighton and the wider area of East Sussex are non-existent when compared to say, the building industry up north in the Dales. However what is surprising is that there are NHS managers who, despite advocating equality and diversity and being on conferences on various issues, have bigoted views when it comes to HIV. One of these managers was part of the NHS LGBT Group in the Parade through Brighton last Saturday. It is even more surprising is Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is a top 100 National Stonewall Equality Employer. Presumable equality of employment is not the same as employing people with Neanderthal views. Stonewall is nothing special however. (Stonewall sold out some time ago to become the fluffy, comfortable, comformist organisation it is today. For instance they wont support Gay Marriage as it will cost too much e.g. Pension rights. Idiots. Thinking about it further, democracy costs a lot with all those nasty elections etc- lets get rid of that if cost is a valid reasons to not have something.)
This NHS Manager believes the knowledge of someone’s HIV status gives them power. They really ought to reconsider their position. This Brighton NHS Manager who believes that HIV+ people should not be allowed to go to certain places. Their views would really be more at home in Nazi Germany. This manager who goes through someone’s medication whilst alone in their room, made notes, Googled the medication names and then later discloses to other people what they are suffering from. Perhaps they ought to be drummed out of the service. This manager in Brighton gave a relative stranger a lecture about sex because of their HIV status whilst in the middle of a busy club in Brighton – completely unacceptable. This manager really ought to get down on there knees again, but instead of what they do usually, this time they ought to apologise. However as they think they have powerfull glitterati friends they are immune from repurcussions from their actions
Hypocrisy from anyone can be dangerous, even more so if they are in a position of responsibility. It is even more surprising from a gay man working as a manager in the NHS in Brighton. Pride and NO Prejudice in future please NHS.
Quotes
You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.
Martin Luther
People don't really think other people are the same.
Stanley Crouch
It's no fun to have HIV even though it's viewed as a chronic, controllable disease. It means being wedded to the health system.
Phil Berger
All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
Dale Carnegie
Our actions are the results of our intentions and our intelligence.
E. Stanley Jones
It is the highest form of self-respect to admit our errors and mistakes and make amends for them. To make a mistake is only an error in judgment, but to adhere to it when it is discovered shows infirmity of character.
Dale Turner