Published

Sunday Territorian (Darwin)

Date

10 March 1985

Collection

Newspaper Clippings Collection

Description

AIDS was the medical news story of the 1980s, generating a wealth of often hysterical front page banner headlines touching on sex, drugs, blood, homosexuality, prostitution and more. In this story, the Sunday Territorian seeks the responses of Darwin residents to the suggestion by visiting American psychologist Dr Paul Cameron on the Mike Willessee show on Channel 9, that ‘homosexuals should be exterminated as a way to combat AIDS’. While those surveyed were almost unanimously appalled by the statement, with some even likening it to the words of a Hitler-inspired maniac, others expressed support. For more information see: ‘Mossies could spread AIDS’: Australian media references on AIDS, 1981-1985 / compiled by Robert French (Sydney: Gay History Project, 1986).