Main article: AIDS myths and urban legends Because the worldwide spread of AIDS has had such a tragic effect on millions of people world-wide, a number of myths, urban legends, and conspiracy theories have arisen surrounding the disease. ...

Patient Zero theory

Some advocates hold that the disease was introduced by a flight attendant named Gaetan Dugas, referred to as "Patient Zero". Other advocates argue that there were cases of AIDS much earlier than initially known. Flight attendants, formerly called sky girls, air hostesses, stewardesses and stewards hold the primary responsibility for the safety and comfort of airline passengers. ... In general, the term Patient Zero refers to the central or initial patient in the population sample of an epidemiological investigation. ... In general, the term Patient Zero refers to the central or initial patient in the population sample of an epidemiological investigation. ...

Inoculation theory

It has also been theorized that a series of inoculations against hepatitis that were performed in the gay community of San Francisco were tainted with HIV. Although there was a high correlation between recipients of that vaccination and initial cases of AIDS, this theory has never been proven. Inoculation was a method of minimising the harm done by infection with smallpox. ... Hepatitis is a gastroenterological disease, featuring inflammation of the liver. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Vaccination is a term coined by Edward Jenner for the process of administering live, albeit weakened, microbes to patients, with the intent of conferring immunity against a targeted form of a related disease agent. ...

Views of Randy Shilts

One of the best-known works on the history of HIV is And the Band Played On, by Randy Shilts. Shilts contends that Ronald Reagan's administration dragged its feet in dealing with the crisis due to homophobia, thus allowing the disease to spread and hundreds of thousands of people to needlessly die. This resulted in the formation of ACT-UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power by Larry Kramer. And the Band Played On: People, Politics, and the AIDS Epidemic is a book written by San Francisco Chronicle journalist Randy Shilts (original copyright 1987) chronicling the discovery and spread of HIV and AIDS, with a special emphasis on alleged government indifference to what was initially perceived as a gay... Randy Shilts (August 8, 1951 – February 17, 1994) was a gay American journalist and author. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan, (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). ... The term homophobia is a portmanteau derived from the words homosexual and phobia. ... ACT-UP, or the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals . ... Larry Kramer (born June 25, 1935), American dramatist, author and gay rights activist, was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and was educated at Yale University(class of 1957). ...

This view is opposed by Reagan supporters who note (1) that Reagan poured millions of dollars into HIV research and (2) that Reagan's expressed views on homosexuality were benign or neutral; in a reminiscence by one of his daughters, he matter-of-factly described Rock Hudson as, "I think he'd rather be kissing a man."

Shilts also details the fact that the Red Cross refused to ban bisexual and gay men from donating blood at the request of the Centers for Disease Control early in the discovery of the epidemic to keep the blood bank industry from suffering shortages. Thus, tens of thousands of hemophiliacs and transfusion recipients were infected and died. The Anarchist Black Cross was originally called the Anarchist Red Cross. The band Redd Kross was originally called Red Cross. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta is recognized as the lead United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people by providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. ... Haemophilia or hemophilia is the name of any of several hereditary genetic illnesses that impair the bodys ability to control bleeding. ... Blood transfusion is the taking of blood or blood-based products from one individual and inserting them into the circulatory system of another. ...

Some people think it's rather unlikely that the CDC would avoid screening out likely HIV carriers merely to prevent shortages. The risk of killing people by giving them a fatal disease would seem to outweigh the risk of reducing the blood supply slightly.

Americans vs. French

Activists and critics of current AIDS policies allege that another preventable impediment to the attack on the disease was the academic elitism of "celebrity" scientists. Robert Gallo, an American scientist who was one of many to try to attempt to figure out if there was some kind of new virus in the people who were affected with the disease, became embroiled in a legal battle with French scientist Luc Montagnier trying to do the same thing. Gallo, too, appeared hung up on the possible connection between the virus causing AIDS and HTLV, a retrovirus that he had worked with previously. Critics claim that because some scientists (and biological research companies) wanted glory and fame, this held up progress on research and more people needlessly died. Eventually, after meeting, the French scientists and Gallo agreed to "share" the discovery of HIV. Academic institutions often face the charge of Academic elitism, sometimes called the Ivory Tower. ... Dr. Robert C. Gallo Robert C. Gallo (born March 23, 1937) is a U.S. biomedical researcher. ... A virus is a microscopic parasite that infects cells in biological organisms. ... Luc Montagnier (born 1932) is a French virologist. ... ... Genera Alpharetrovirus Betaretrovirus Gammaretrovirus Deltaretrovirus Epsilonretrovirus Lentivirus Spumavirus A Retrovirus is a virus which has a genome consisting of two plus sense RNA molecules, which may or may not be identical. ...

Campaigns against "gay disease" label

Publicity campaigns were started in attempts to counter the often vitriolic and homophobic perception of AIDS as a "gay plague" and replace it with actual knowledge that would save lives. In particular this included the Ryan White case, the red ribbon campaigns, the celebrity dinners, the film of And the Band Played On, sex education programs in schools, television advertisements, etc. Announcements by various celebrities that they had contracted AIDS (including basketball star Magic Johnson and tennis player Arthur Ashe) were significant in making the general public aware of the dangers of the disease to everyone, as no disease is confined to one sexual orientation. Ryan White, the Indiana teen who became an internationally-known figure for his courageous fight against AIDS and its erroneous perception as a disease against gay men. ... Magic Earvin Magic Johnson, Jr. ... Country: United States Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) Weight: 160 lb (73 kg) Plays: Right Turned pro: 1966 Retired: 1980 Highest singles ranking: 2 (5/10/1976) Singles titles: 34 Career prize money: $2,584,909 Grand Slam Record Titles: 3 Australian Open W (1970) French Open QF...