Well well, First of all let me begin by saying that although I was a youngster...I did grow up in the 80s and early 90s, so I am well aware of the early years of the AIDS crisis. I was in middle-school in the mid-to-late 80s, so I certainly remember hearing the debates, etc. on AIDS. But thanks Michael for attempting to instruct all of us on what portions of history I may or may not remember. But I digress.
There is a definite difference between public health and writing overbearing repressive morality into law. For example, in the 80s I would have been tip top gung ho in support of closing the bath houses in Minneapolis. Too little was known about the transmission of HIV and not enough education had happened (thank you very much Mr. Reagan)...to ignore the fact that wild amounts of unsafe sex were taking place in the bath houses. Not because folks had devil may care attitudes but because education was lacking...and while I personally believe that with education today bath houses could (and perhaps should) be allowed to re-open, I believe at the time it was a necessary public good to shut down bath houses. Now, much of the reasoning, unfortunately, behind shutting down the bath houses revolved around moral judgment and right-wing uber-conservative Christian sentiment. That reasoning---unacceptable for use in public policy decisions....public health and helping to halt the spread of HIV---that was indeed, I believe, a judicious use of law making in the interest of the public. Of course, I know that there are many folks that don't agree with that statement in the queer community. But that's why we get to have these lovely discussions, as you pointed out. (please also note that I am making no judgment here about anyone's choice of sexual practices now or in the past...many of my own could/would come under fire by various segments of the community...but then again...whose wouldn't?). Let me be super duper clear for you Mr. Atherton...I'm not defining public spaces as edifices that contain a specific air volume. I'm defining public places as places where the general public gathers together for a variety of activities that is enclosed or at least tight quarters. So...restaurants, bars, stadiums, airplanes, movie theaters, port-o-potties, dance clubs, art galleries, amphitheaters, kennel clubs, tennis courts, bus shelters, greenhouses, and the Tilt-a-Whirl at Valley Fair. In those places it may be possible to get alcohol...but the distribution and use of alcohol is at least regulated, policed on occasion, the supply can be controlled, and individuals are choosing to use themselves without also intoxicating their neighbors by proxy. Now, in those same places...one can not regulate exactly where the air currents are going to take second-hand smoke carrying carcinogens into the lungs of innocent bystanders...for example...toddlers on the Merry-Go-Round, Grandmothers with emphysema at the Arboretum, or house wives that choose to exercise and stay fit that want to go out and have a cocktail with the girls on Friday night without worrying about rampant melanoma and the like. Now here's the part where things get fun....just doing a quick survey of the web...I found this tid bit of information about second-hand smoke...and it's not even about cancer...it has to do with heart attacks...here we go ladies and gents: In June, 2002, the citizens of Helena, Montana, voted to ban smoking in all public buildings-including restaurants, bars, and casinos. Soon after, doctors at the local hospital noticed that heart-attack admissions were dropping. So they, in conjunction with the University of California-San Francisco, did a study to measure the potential short-term effects of a smoking ban. First, there was no change in heart attack rates for patients who lived outside the city limits. Second, for city residents, the rates plummeted by 58 percent in only six months. "We know from longer-term studies that the effects of second-hand smoke occur within minutes, and that long-term exposure to second-hand smoke is associated with a 30 percent increased risk in heart-attack rates," said Stanton Glantz, a professor of medicine who conducted the study's statistical analysis. "But it was quite stunning to document this large an effect so quickly." It was a shock to witness what happened next. The Montana state legislature, under pressure from the Montana Tavern Association and tobacco lobbyists, rescinded the ban in December, 2002. As a result, heart-attack rates bounced back up almost as quickly as they had dropped http://www.wordsources.info/words-mod-capnophobiaPt4.html (check out this site for more fun info...wooohoo). But don't take just that sights word for it...check out this one too http://www.no-smoke.org/getthefacts.php?id=13 Now the fact remains that there are very FEW studies on the planet that someone somewhere hasn't come up with another study saying...well...that one just don't work...cuz...well...this one time...at band camp...this one kid smoked near me...and I never got cancer or had a heart attack. Well good for you then. The truth is that second hand smoke kills. The truth is that second hand smoke in bars and restaurants leads to all kinds of nasty nasties. The truth remains that public health laws should protect the greatest number of people from the greatest amount of harm...the ban does that...oh yeah...and...again...no one is outlawing smoking...you wanna light up...the bars are happy to stamp your hand or give you a neato bracelet so you can step right on outside and have a puff or two and then join your non-smoking friends back inside. Best of both worlds...you get your nic fix and your friends get to keep all their little bronchial tubes happy and tar free. Good try on equating the institutional oppression of LGBT individuals with smokers that want to light up willy nilly wherever they please without regard to the negative health impact on those around them. But really...that just ain't gonna fly. -Brandon Lacy Campos -Loring Park REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 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