North Carolina State Representative Larry Brown Says HIV/AIDS Government Funding Should Be Stopped For Those Living “Perverted Lifestyles”

During a discussion of his legislative goals for the upcoming General Assembly session, North Carolina State Representative Larry Brown(Republican-Forsyth) told the Winston-Salem Journal that the government should not spend money to treat adults with HIV/AIDS who “caused it by the way they live.” Brown began his discussion with the newspaper by underlining his support for a constitutional amendment that would explicitly define marriage as that only existing between one man and one woman, thereby frustrating any efforts to allow same sex marriage. Brown, who ran unopposed in November to win his fourth term, said “I’m not opposed to helping a child born with HIV or something, but I don’t condone spending taxpayers’ money to help people living in perverted lifestyles.” He would not define what he considers perverted, but did add that adults who contract HIV through sexual activity or intravenous drug use would be categorised as those who should not receive treatment courtesy of the government. He added that he is not attempting to legislate morality, but that “I think people with HIV have legitimate fears and probably need support, but when it comes down to priorities, my priorities would be in the other direction.” Katherine Foster, the president of AIDS Care Service in Winston-Salem, said Brown’s remarks are “fiscally and socially irresponsible” and said they underscore “his ignorance on this major public-health issue.” In October, after lawmakers were informed that a legislative leadership award was being presented to the then-House Speaker Joe Hackney, Representative Brown sent an e-mail to House Minority Leader Paul Stam saying “I hope all the queers are thrilled to see him. I am sure there will be a couple legislative fruit loops there in the audience.”