The Rainbow Conspiracy

by Stuart Hopps

  Allen then went on to address the following symptoms, which he explained were not in any particular order of importance.

  ‘Lymphadenopathy: the medical term describing swollen glands. It can develop in the neck, armpits or groin and it can be painful in some cases, and not in others. If the condition lasts for more than two weeks, I would strongly advise that you see a doctor.

  ‘White spots: persistent white spots or unusual blemishes in the mouth.

  ‘Night sweats: occurring intermittently over a period of at least several weeks, and leaving the body wringing wet.

  ‘Weight loss: not through diet, but rather a sudden and unexpected loss of weight, greater than ten pounds in less than two months.

  ‘Fever: which lasts for more than ten days, with the body reaching a temperature well above ninety degrees.

  ‘Dry cough: not from smoking, but a condition accompanied by shortness of breath and has lasted too long to be described as a classic lung infection.

  ‘Diarrhoea: that has no obvious cause and seems to persist for a long period of time.

  ‘Kaposi’s sarcoma: pink or purple flat or raised blotches or bumps that occur on or under the skin, usually inside the mouth, nose, eyelids or rectum. At first, they may look like bruises that don’t fade and they are usually harder than the skin that surrounds them, however, they are not to be confused with moles or birth marks.

  ‘Now I’d like to show some slides which give examples of patients with swollen glands of the throat … under the armpit … and, lastly, in the groin.’

  Allowing time for these three slides to make their impression, he continued: ‘When the lymph glands are swollen, it is a sure indication that all is not well, and were this to be so, I would suggest that you should almost certainly make an appointment to visit your doctor.’

  He then showed two slides of the feet of a patient suffering from Kaposi’s sarcoma. The instep of one foot was covered in purple blotches, forming raised scabs on the surface of the foot. The other slide was a shot taken from above, looking down onto the toes. Here again there was a mass of circular blemishes, dark pink in colour, forming clusters all over the upper section of the foot. Allen explained that both slides showed how this form of skin cancer had attacked a patient’s foot because of reduced immune defences. However, he went on to argue that there was still much disagreement as to whether the cancer predated the immune breakdown or not.

  For some time now, Clive had been worrying about a dark blotch on his left foot and seeing these slides made him more convinced than ever that he needed a proper examination to reassure himself that he was OK.

  Allen informed the group that many people with AIDS are susceptible to infections, which a healthy immune system usually attacks and deals with. Opportunistic infections may be caused by germs such as a bacterium, a virus, a Sporozoa or, and less commonly, yeast or a fungus. As the name implies, these infections seize the opportunity to gain hold when an immunological malfunction occurs. He ended the slide show on a more positive note with a series of stills showing that healthy people with a good T-cell count ratio in their system were able to avoid catching the kind of infections that can attack the body of someone with AIDS.

  Then a short stocky South American-looking guy raised his hand and Allen invited him to ask his question.

  ‘Is there any truth in the rumour that poppers have something to do with transmitting AIDS?’

  ‘I’m glad you asked. Amyl and butyl nitrites used as stimulants during the sexual activities of many AIDS patients were thought, at one point, to be a contributory factor. These recreational drugs – and I need hardly have to mention them by name to you guys, but I will: Thrust, Locker Room and Hardware – were examined thoroughly. A report brought out in ‘82 produced inconclusive evidence, as it was found that a certain percentage of patients had never used any of them. However, it can also be argued that, as stimulants, they do encourage a good deal of sexual activity and promiscuity.

  ‘No one yet knows what actually causes the breakdown of our immunity, which can lead to AIDS, although there are two theories put forward by our research scientists, which I can only express in medical terms, so you must all bear with me. The first theory is that it is a novel viral agent, or an old one in a new guise, which attacks the defence cells of the immune system.’

  This last remark caused Clive to wonder whether this so-called ‘novel viral agent’ was the one being produced down in Arizona.

  ‘The second is that multiple factors may be responsible, including a combination of the body’s reaction to the constant reactivation of cytomegalovirus, a member of the herpes family, and some research has even indicated that semen itself has been shown to be immunesuppressive.

  ‘Which brings me to examine the sexual implications of these theories. As you are all well aware, the vagina is designed to receive semen and process it. The rectum, on the other hand, is not equipped with the same deactivators. It is designed to extract water from faeces, and will readily absorb semen when present, through its walls. Cytomegalovirus, or CMV for short, is often secreted in saliva, semen and urine, and if found in the rectum, can very easily be absorbed into the body. Sex with a partner who has CMV in his semen could lead to an irreversible breakdown of the immune system, which can cause AIDS. If this conclusion is correct, it is most important to avoid contact with CMV carriers, and wise to reduce the number of different partners you have sex with. The more men you sleep around with, the more you are putting yourself and others at risk.’

  The next question came from the other side of the room.

  ‘Even if you do stick with the same guy all the time, could you clarify … Oh! I don’t quite know how to say this…’

  ‘Please go on, I want to be of help.’ And Allen’s persuasive smile seemed to encourage the young man to continue.

  ‘Thank you. I mean, could you say what sort of sex is recommended. Like, is being fucked by your lover now allowed – provided he’s clear, that is?’

  ‘Look, to put it bluntly, getting fucked by your lover, if he comes up your arse, and even if he is wearing a condom, is a huge risk factor. But then, we all know that you can catch gonorrhoea that way too. The greater the number of alien body fluids you allow into your blood and lymph system, the greater the danger you’re going to be exposed to. So, I do believe that the passive partner is at greater risk, and until more is known, it is surely advisable to act as though viruses like CMV and even sperm itself, for that matter, are causative agents and are dangerous.’

  ‘I guess that means that blow jobs are out too?’ asked the same guy.

  ‘Correct. And here I would go further and say that swallowing piss and rimming should not be practised under any circumstances. Both carry such high health hazards anyway, and very often lead to contracting other sexually transmitted diseases.’

  Allen didn’t want to blind his audience with science, so simply explained that viruses themselves were baffling and complex, and said out that in the three years of research already undertaken, no one agent had been identified as being common to all patients suffering from this disease. Together with many of his colleagues, he also found it difficult to explain the cause behind the considerable spread of the syndrome in the United States and confirmed that the latest medical opinion was beginning to believe that AIDS could be caused by a new, and as yet unidentified agent or germ.

  Once again Clive wondered whether Dr Allen Levitt was referring to the virus Senator Jim had been convinced was being developed near Tucson.

  Allen went on to mention that yet another hypothesis, but one supported by only some researchers, was that the hepatitis B virus, known as HBV, may also be a cause of AIDS. In some of the case studies undertaken in the United States, almost half of all the gay men examined were seen to be carrying antibodies against hepatitis B, indicating that at some point they had been exposed to HBV, and were consequently vulnerable to the possibility of catching AIDS.

  Allen was absolutely adamant tha
t, given the complexity of the situation, what was certain was that there could be a long incubation period prior to the illness developing, and it was therefore essential that everyone at risk should take the greatest possible care to protect their immune system. With that smile of his, which Clive was now finding irritating, Allen gently stressed the importance of sleep, of maintaining a healthy diet, and of giving due care and attention to personal hygiene in order to avoid any infection. He added that a hundred years ago, sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhoea were classified as deadly. With research and the discovery of antibiotics, progress was made and cures were found and he was hopeful that, in time, they would find a remedy for this new disease. Then, in conclusion, he informed the gathering that the one thing that was certain and all research agreed upon, was that the transmission of AIDS is almost certainly sexual.

  ‘The fewer people you sleep around with, the smaller the risk you take. Here in America, we sure do have a lot to tempt us, with all the bars, bathhouses, saunas and cinemas exclusively created for us to indulge our pleasures and live out our fantasies. It is also true that in many of our states, sex between consenting underage males is still an offence, and it is clear that in many towns it is not easy to live an openly gay existence. I understand why, in such circumstances, it has often been necessary to seek out anonymous sexual encounters in a variety of locations, and temptation has been great everywhere.

  ‘But gentlemen, now really is the time to curb it. Whatever the reason for so much promiscuity, whether it be to cover up any doubts we may have about how attractive we are, to help us feel less insecure about our masculinity, or whether it’s down to simply how randy we may be getting, it’s all got to stop!’

  There appeared to be a sudden mood change in the room, as though each man there was sharing the same thoughts. Those years of enjoying the delights of sex between consenting males had passed, and what even the most closeted of men thought liberating in the sixties and seventies was, in one lecture, taken away from them and established as taboo. The honeymoon of liberal gay sexual freedom in the eighties was now over, and it was time for a stricter and more conservative approach to life. It was the end of an era that might never return.

  Allen broke the heavy atmosphere that had descended on the room: ‘We all have to be highly selective when finding the person we’re going to have sex with. Don’t be shy about asking the guy you’ve chosen all sorts of personal questions relating to his sexual habits before you decide to go to bed together. Even check him out. I mean it: literally give his body a thorough inspection and encourage him to do the same to you, even if it does give both of you an instant droop. So what? What’s in a fuck, when it’s a matter of life and death? You should both share a mutual interest in staying alive. And now I would like to read out a quote from a pamphlet published recently in New York by Gay Health: “Sex doesn’t make you sick, diseases do. Gay sex doesn’t make you sick, gay men who are sick do.”

  ‘There may not be conclusive proof that promiscuity is a major factor, but research has indicated time and time again that many gay men with AIDS have been more promiscuous than healthy gay men. Surely it’s foolish not to take heed of such findings and go on leading a life that involves multiple partners, whatever we may think the sacrifice. It’s in the interests of good health and of the gay community as a whole to curb all such desires. If you cannot cope with a monogamous relationship and have to indulge in group sex, then develop your own closed circle of fuck-buddies with guys who you know are free from infection and who only have sex within the group. Don’t get fucked without a rubber and remember that good hygiene is most essential at all times; washing before and after sex. Lastly, I have to admit that I always recommend masturbation: it can be great fun and is risk-free.’ And with that, he sat down.

  Allen’s last remark was accompanied by a huge round of applause and quite a good deal of laughter, which was badly needed after the serious nature of his talk. There was yet another noticeable readjustment of chairs and he again invited questions from the floor. With what Clive thought was an immense display of charm, Allen urged the men to be as open and frank with him as he had been with them. He assured them that they could ask him absolutely anything they wanted and express themselves naturally and in laymen’s speak, without attempting highfalutin’ medical expressions.

  After a series of nervous coughs and throat-clearings, one of the older guys in the room asked : ‘Are you saying that sex is now completely out, unless your partner swears on the Bible that he has been totally faithful?’

  ‘No. I’m not saying that. However, what I am saying and really want to stress is that until we know more, you have to be sure about who you’re sleeping around with. Any kind of sexual contact with someone you don’t know and have casually picked up may put you at risk. To be crude about it, do you think a fuck is more important than your own life?’

  Then a rather well-dressed elderly gentleman rose slowly and asked: ‘Sir, can you tell us about the self-help group that they run here at the Men’s Center?’

  ‘I sure can. It first started as a social centre for gay men to meet in a venue which was free from the kind of pressure you would find in a gay bar or disco. Then when a friend of mine, Dennis Montrose, became the first AIDS patient in Columbus and was hospitalised, a small number of his friends rallied round and formed a support group to help him, as well as his partner.’

  That mention of Dennis by name had a sudden impact: whatever the cause of AIDS might be, it was now certain that Dennis was one of the first of the eleven Columbus fatalities and Clive now found it difficult to concentrate on the next question.

  ‘What sort of help does the group actually provide?’ asked a man sitting next to Clive.

  ‘All kinds really; it depends what’s needed. We provide meals twice a week, giving people the chance to gather for lunch. We’ve created a safe space for gay men to meet and socialise, along with friends and extended family. Some parents need advice in coming to terms with the fact that their son is gay and they need to understand the whys and wherefores of what has happened to their child. Sometimes it’s simply a question of visiting a terminally ill patient in hospital and you can well imagine that it’s not easy when they just lie there knowing they’re gonna die. Sometimes it’s offering practical and emotional support to the patient’s partner. So, as you can see, a great deal of help is needed and if you would like to be a volunteer and be put on our mailing list, please leave your details with me before you go. The more hands on deck, the better.’

  Allen then insisted that there was one other way that the meeting could help, which was even more important: it was to assist the medical research being carried out there in Columbus. By filling in one of the questionnaires which he passed around the room and answering the questions as truthfully as each man possibly could, they would be able to provide the local medics with invaluable information. Without the correct data, the epidemiological knowledge about homosexual health patterns in Ohio state, which his colleagues were keen to gather, would never be conclusive. He assured the gathering that the forms he was giving out were confidential, and that he and his colleagues would be most grateful if each man there took one away with them, filled it in and either delivered it to his office at the Columbus General Hospital, or returned it at next week’s meeting. He also added that it contained the address of the local Trust Fund.

  ‘Well, if there are no more questions, I would just like to bring this evening’s meeting to a close with a few parting words. Use common sense: eat right, exercise, reduce stress, avoid exposing yourselves to infection, and surround yourself with those who love and nurture you. This disease is epidemic in America today, but we can get through this difficult time if we live healthier and more disciplined lives. We may be paying for all those years of sexual liberation, but if the only price to pay is a little abstinence and selfcontrol, then what price is fasting, I ask you? Lastly I’d like to thank you all most warmly for coming a
long this evening. We hold these sessions here every Saturday and at the same time. So do tell your friends and help spread the word throughout this town of ours. Let’s all work towards making our gay community a healthier one and let’s all aid Columbus by making Columbus AIDS-free!’

  Allen’s sudden departure from the room echoed the swift entrance he had made at the start of the evening. He had ended his talk-in on a rousing note, leaving his audience feeling positive and strong, and they showed their appreciation in the customary and enthusiastic manner. However the assembled gathering failed to disappear anywhere nearly as quickly as their guest speaker had vanished. Many of the guys seemed to want to linger on and needed to chat to each other about the information they had just gleaned.

  Some men expressed their appreciation of Allen’s optimistic energy and despite many of the depressing facts he had put before them, agreed that they felt inspired by his positivity. Judging from the buzz of lively conversation, Clive felt that Dr Levitt had an almost hypnotic effect on his audience and appeared to have most certainly won the respect and admiration of his congregation. But after a while, and without his dynamic and positive presence to fire the gathering, a more subdued atmosphere began to take hold in the room, with some of the men becoming morose and negative. Before long, a noticeable feeling of melancholy had descended on those remaining, slow to take hold at first, but nonetheless highly contagious.