Community debate has been raging for months on the legendary
Pinkboard Graffiti Walls, a forum for gays. There is a story to be unleashed
concerning the controversial AIDS
Council of NSW (ACON), which has received gay community backlash in recent
times because of its inappropriate handling of issues linked to the notorious
“crystal” methamphetamine addiction epidemic in inner Sydney.

On the walls allocated to “Living With HIV” endless posts argue the urgent need for a proper strategy in
addressing the crystal crisis, including more appropriate education about the
dangers of this hideous drug. Meanwhile, ACON defenders outlandishly attack
critics of the organisation for demanding public health education on crystal
meth.

Life or Meth
states that 73,000 Australians, 12,000 in Sydney
alone, are now estimated to be addicted to crystal, with a documented
correlation between crystal and HIV transmission worldwide and a surveyed 50%
claiming to practice unsafe s-x on crystal.

Other gay capitals around the world have strategic anti-crystal campaigns in
full swing. The USA response to the problem has been
a $400 million combined initiative to address the crystal epidemic with HIV and
Drug & Alcohol groups joining forces with gay health centres to educate gays and created websites like gaymeth. Yet ACON recalcitrantly refuses to follow suit, while Australian and
NSW HIV rates are affected by unsafe practices linked to crystal abuse.

ACON has had much adverse publicity worldwide about its
irresponsible “Harm Reduction Policy” which ACON boasts to be the
“world’s only” AIDS council harm reduction model. This policy allows
ACON to display instructions on its website about how to use crystal meth, which
is tantamount to giving lessons in drug abuse.

The ACON apologists are no longer
focused on HIV prevention, despite generating millions in government
funding and community fundraising generosity – all intended for HIV-specific
initiatives. The organisation uses its monies for all manner of ridiculous
projects instead, such as Quit Smoking For Lesbians
programmes, Gay Cruise Lounge Etiquette, etc. When millions of dollars of public money a year are in
question, society deserves an honest description of any NGO. For example, the
Queensland AIDS Council has done the right thing by changing its name to
the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities.

Because ACON monopolises various fading HIV
services, and because of its advertising expenditure in the gay print media (Sydney Star
Observer et al), the organisation has become known as a ruthless power monger
bullying people who try to speak out against it and attaining editorial control
over public comment about itself.

This place has a tiny fan base but a much larger silent opposition in the
community, which has long since learned the futility of trying to say anything
to or about ACON.

Meanwhile, HIV notification rates remain stable (instead of
dropping significantly or vanishing altogether). Gay people are
becoming peer
pressured into using crystal meth, then get caught up in the current
underground culture of “b-rebacking” which is unprotected s-x, often
en masse in public venues, as well as via internet dating sites such as
Gaydar.

ACON plays with its money while all this goes on, using it
on catered board meetings, overseas junkets to glamorous conference events, and
party DJs for rave parties at which crystal meth abuse is a given. Yes, this
place actually profits from rave parties at which the drug is rife, by
accepting percentages of ticket sales in the name of HIV.

Of
$8,509,570 income from grants and charity events last year, $584,592 was spent
on programs. That response comprised a booklet instructing crystal users how to
use. And just a
quick glance at all the media releases from ACON in the last few months shows a marked absence of comment on HIV or crystal.