There are a few points I wanted to share regarding Mr. Bell’s suggestion in the Reporter that gay people should “prove” they do not have AIDS to adopt:

1. There are federal laws barring discrimination against those that are HIV positive.

2. There are health care confidentiality regulations, such as HIPAA, that would make forced disclosure problematic.

3. Having AIDS is not limited to the gay/lesbian community.

4. Most Americans who are HIV positive today live a normal life, including raising a family and having children after diagnoses.

5. Just because someone is HIV positive does not mean others living in the same household will get AIDS.

6. Being a good parent and creating a good family can happen in spite of a particular medical condition.

The primary reason that gays and lesbians were granted the right to marry was for equality under our law. Many were already parents, either having them on their own (there are many ways for this to occur) or through adoption.

No doubt, there is and should be a long and somewhat arduous process in selecting a perfect home for a child. However, that process needs to be fair and treat every individual equally. It could well be that the perfect home for a Sally or John is with a new parent who is HIV positive and there is no reason that this medical condition alone should eliminate them from consideration in starting a new family.

Johnmichael Monteith, Kirkland