Gareth Williams.........

[10ClarionSt]

....what's so special about this man that warrants the constant media coverage? Did he get HIV because of a medical blunder? If another "famous" person had contracted cancer due to smoking, or Cyrrhosis due to drinking, would they get the same coverage? I don't get it.

[andy-hughes]

Jordyboy - // I am with 10clarionst,with this,
Gay man is hiv positive
He knew the risks
Unprotected sex
Where’s the story? //

The story is partly the behind-the-hands tittering of a section of the community who read tabloid papers that will relish the perceived dichotomy of a rugby player being gay, and the unpleasant aspect of the whole thing is that because Mr Thomas enjoys a degree of profile as a major sporting personality, his private life is therefore fair game for tabloids feeding the Victorian attitudes of their readership.

[david small]

Why don't they name the journalist who did the dirty. Shame the shamer.

[Jordyboy9]

I am not getting this,bobbisox says that Gareth Thomas was very brave,EH?
How can he remove the stigma of the disease?
Multiple partners unprotected sex
How many of his partners has he infected?
BRAVE? I don’t think so.

[teacake44]

Its been said many times, if your on the world stage be prepared to take the good and bad press. George Michael springs to mind, if you hang about public toilets for what you see as enjoyment, then take the flack, and whatever else comes along.

[Bobbisox1]

@jb
he was being blackmailed, I am sure he did not want the world and it's granny to know he was HIV positive and yes, it carries a stigma probably that he'd have preferred not to stand in front of the media and say it...okay?

[ummmm]

I don't think he was trying to remove the stigma. He was forced to admit to it before the press printed it.

Jordy - anyone who has unprotected sex, and there are many many people who do, risk passing on sexually transmitted diseases. HIV used to be a killer but was as easy to catch as crabs. It's not a life sentence anymore.

Teacake - not everyone thinks of the future when choosing their profession. I'm not sure a young Gareth Thomas even thought about being famous let alone his sexuality. He's a sportsman, not an X-Factor hopeful.

[Jordyboy9]

I understand what you’re saying ummmm,you say it’s as easy to catch as crabs,but if you know you have it surely you make sure not to pass it on,irrespective if it’s easy to control or not.

[Spicerack]

ummmm//It's not just gay men who are at risk. Women get it too.//

Especially when they're married to selfish gays.

[Spicerack]

Good luck with the thread, 10cc. Mine was removed without warning.
The usual suspects were angry that I started a thread about it.
One would almost think they want to keep all this a secret.

[jno]

what sunny dave says. He didn't want the coverage, a newspaper forced it on him (I don't know which one) and even told his parents.

I think you're directing your scorn at the wrong person.

[retrocop]

Has he now retired from the game? If not how do they handle any potential blood injury?

[jno]

he retired eight years ago.

[retrocop]

Ta jno. First I've heard of him.
I reckon I have got more blood brothers than I ever realised when I played rugby years ago.
We were never sent off for blood injurys to be attended to and HIV hadn't even evolved on the planet.Hep A or B I suppose was the only drama then.

[Ellipsis]

Good programme:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008yrh

[ummmm]

Spice - anyone who hasn't been tested and has unprotected sex is selfish, especially people, male or female, who make a habit of it when they have a partner at home.

[Spicerack]

Quite agree, ummmm. But, like it or not, there's a much higher risk factor with gay men.

[hereIam]

'I think the entire sordid business shames us all'

Speak for yourself!

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks for the replies. You're right of course, ff. Not interesting enough to remember his name. I still don't get all the coverage, though.