Gay-Related Immune Deficiency, or GRID, was the original name for AIDS. Until two days ago, I did not know AIDS had a former name. I knew very little about why AIDS was believed to be a "gay-only" disease and therefore, decided to do a little research.
The acronym GRID was originally proposed by public health scientists after they "noticed clusters of Kaposi's sarcoma and Pneumocystis pneumonia among gay males in California and New York City." Interestingly enough, these two diseases were not even connected with homosexuality until AIDS was discovered. For instance, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) had rarely been seen in the US and if so, only in elderly men of Jewish or Italian ancestry. The number of KS cases increased in the US as the number of organ transplants increased. However, this fact was hidden from the public as homosexuals were still being blamed for the epidemic.
Because the disease was so new, the public absorbed and believed any information they heard about AIDS. Unfortunately, little was know about the disease in the late 70's and early 80's and false statements were frequently being made. For instance, Dr. Robert Gallo, the researcher "who is best know for identifying HIV as an infectious agent responsible for AIDS", told reporters that AIDS would never become an epidemic, the disease could not be transferred between men and women through heterosexual intercourse, and an individual needed to be infected with a large amount of the virus in order to become sick.
Due to false information, AIDS continued to be referred to as a homosexual-only disease. People argued that only homosexuals were promiscuous and used intravenous drugs. It was not until 1982 when the term AIDS was coined by Bruce Voeller and others who were concerned with the accuracy of the name. At this point, KS was beginning to be found in Haitian men and women, men with hemophilia, women with infected partners, babies born to infected mothers, "and among blood transfusion recipients with no obvious risk factors." Scientists were beginning to realize that AIDS was not in fact a "gay-only" disease. Unfortunately, even today, people still believe AIDS can only be transferred between two males.
The Gay Men's Health Crisis organization was established by six gay men, in January 1982, in order to combat the belief that AIDS was a "gay-only" disease. GMHC currently works to combat homophobia and reduce the spread of AIDS.
I found it very interesting how the media played such a large role in convincing the public that AIDS was a "homosexual-only" disease. I was wondering if people knew of other crises that the media has blamed on minority groups.
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I'm glad to have read your research findings and have always wondered about the early correlation between AIDS and homosexual men. I cannot believe that I had never heard of GRID before, you would think that something like that would be more public knowledge. I guess that just goes to show how society tends to cover up past failings.
I also wonder to what extent current medical researchers make claims that are invalid and to which there is not yet sufficient evidence. Occassionally, we will hear about new found evidence that alters earlier perceptions, particularly pertaining to prescription and OTC drugs. I remember seeing both commercial endorsements and legal recall ads related to the dietary drug Phen-Fen.
It is my hope that the extent to which discriminatory diseases are inaccurately linked to marginalized groups has dropped drastically since the early 80s.
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