Abstract
The paper probes the “deep structure” of perceptions of AIDS and the ensuing public policy trends. AIDS has become the latest symbol indexing 20th century conflicts over the family and sexuality and recapitulates some features of early debates over contraception and the control of sexually transmitted diseases. From 1981 to 1983, public talk about AIDS was virtually taboo. Since 1983, the massive proliferation of AIDS discourse has led to the development of an “official story” common in the press and clear in the presumptions underlying recent state policies in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. These policies have favored state control of sexual speech and education, as well as control of people “blamed” for HIV infection, while community-based groups have sought to empower people to affirm their sexuality while avoiding viral transmission.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adam, B. 1978.The Survival of Domination. New York: Elsevier/Greenwood.
Adam, B. 1987.The Rise of a Gay and Lesbian Movement. Boston: G.K. Hall/Twayne.
Altman, D. 1986.AIDS in the Mind of America. Garden City, NY: Anchor.
Armstrong, R. 1986. Customs Bans AIDS Information.Censorship Bulletin 5 (Winter): 1–2.
Bayer, R. 1985. AIDS and the Gay Community.Social Research 52 (3) 581.
Bayer, R., C. Levine and S. Wolf. 1986. HIV Antibody Screening.Journal of the American Medical Association 236 (13) 1769.
Botkin, M. 1987. Thompson Signs Quarantine Bill.Gay Community News 15 (12) 3.
Brandt, A. 1985.No Magic Bullet. New York: Oxford University Press.
Bull, Ch. 1987. Congress Guts AIDS Education.Gay Community News 15 (15) 1.
Collier, S. 1985. Preventing the Spread of AIDS by Restricting Sexual Conduct in Gay Bathhouses.Golden Gate University Law Review 15: 301.
The Constitutional Rights of AIDS Carriers.Harvard Law Review 99 (1986, 6): 1274.
Duesberg, P. 1987. Retroviruses as Carcinogens and Pathogens.Cancer Research 47 (March 1): 1188.
Elford, J. 1987. Moral and Social Aspects of AIDS.Social Science and Medicine 24 (6): 543.
Foucault, M. 1978.The History of Sexuality. Vol. 1. New York: Pantheon.
Foucault, M. 1979.Discipline and Punish. New York: Vintage.
Foucault, M. 1980.Power/Knowledge. New York: Pantheon.
Gordon, L. 1976.Woman's Body, Woman's Right. New York: Grossman.
Gusfield, J. 1963.Symbolic Crusade. Urbana: University of Illinois.
Gusfield, J. 1981.The Culture of Public Problems. University of Chicago Press.
Halfhill, R. 1987. Minn. Opts for Quarantine.Gay Community News 14 (46) 1.
Herdt, G. 1987. AIDS and Anthropology.Anthropology Today 3 (2): 1.
Jones, J. 1987. The Sick Homosexual. In:Current Issues. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference on Gay and Lesbian Studies, Amsterdam.
Kinsman, G. 1988. Quarantine Legislation Passed in B.C.Rites 4 (8) 4.
Kinsman, G. 1987.The Regulation of Desire. Montreal: Black Rose.
Kinsman, G. 1987. Ontario Misinformation About AIDS.Rites 4 (7) 4.
Nichols, Ch. 1984. AIDS — A New Reason to Regulate Homosexuality?Journal of Contemporary Law 11 (1) 315.
Parmet, W. 1985. AIDS and Quarantine.Hofstra Law Review 14 (1) 53.
Patton, C. 1986.Sex and Germs. Boston: South End.
Pincus, E. 1988. God Save the Queers.Gay Community News 15 (32) 1.
Poggi, S. 1987. Colo. Mandates AIDS Reporting.Gay Community News 14 (43) 1.
Poirier, G. 1987. Public Forum Votes Canadian Ads the Worst.Rites 4 (1) 8.
Quadlund, M. et al. 1987.The 800 Men Study. New York, (unpublished report).
Rubin, G. 1984. Thinking Sex. In: C. Vance, ed.,Pleasure and Danger. Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Silin, J. 1987. Dangerous Knowledge.Christopher Street 113: 34.
Watney, S. 1987.Policing Desire. Westheimer, K. 1987. Reagan to Force HIV London: Comedia Testing.Gay Community News 14 (45) 1.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Adam, B.D. The state, public policy, and AIDS discourse. Contemporary Crises 13, 1–14 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00728873
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00728873