On January 11th in an interview with the Winston-Salem Journal, North Carolina State Representative Larry Brown said “the government should not spend money to treat adults with HIV or AIDS who ‘caused it by the way they live.” According to the newspaper, he went on to say he thinks the government shouldn’t spend money to treat HIV among people “living in perverted lifestyles.” Brown’s extremist statements are intolerable, particularly from an elected official who has a duty to represent all of his constituents, including those living with HIV and AIDS. The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization – calls on Rep. Brown to apologize for his hateful statements.
“Rep. Brown’s ill-informed comments are not only hateful rhetoric, but they are also extremely dangerous,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Hysterical, judgmental and inaccurate statements like Brown’s create an environment that prevents many from getting tested and seeking treatment, thereby furthering the spread of HIV and AIDS. Larry Brown’s conduct reflects poorly on his constituents and other elected officials. The people of North Carolina deserve better.”
Yesterday’s statements are not Brown’s first anti-LGBT remarks. According to the Winston-Salem Journal, Brown wrote in an email to House Majority Leader Paul Stam in October regarding the presentation of a legislative leadership award given to then-Speaker Joe Hackney by Equality North Carolina, “I hope all the queers are thrilled to see him. I am sure there will be a couple legislative fruitloops there in the audience.”
“Larry Brown’s views are out of line with the fair-minded people of North Carolina,” Solmonese added. “Sadly, he won a fourth term in November unopposed. Expressions of such bigotry and ignorance have no place in the North Carolina Legislature.”
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