AIDS stigma and sexual prejudice

This article presents national survey data to assess the extent to which AI DS-related stigma remains linked to public attitudes toward homosexuality i n the United States. Most heterosexuals continue to associate AIDS primaril y with homosexuality or bisexuality, and this association is correlated wit h higher levels of sexual prejudice (antigay attitudes). Although lll peopl e who contract AIDS sexually are assigned blame for their infection, such b lame is greater for a gay or bisexual man than for a heterosexual man or wo man. A sizable minority of the public equates all male-male sexual behavior with AIDS, even sex between two HIV-negative men. A substantial portion al so expresses discomfort about touching an article of clothing or drinking f rom a sterilized glass used by a person with AIDS(PWA). These misconception s and discomfort are correlated with sexual prejudice. It is argued that th e link between AIDS attitudes and sexual prejudice impedes HIV prevention e fforts and threatens civil rights.