Rep Wants to Stop Funding �Perverts� with HIV

A North Carolina state representative is setting out to stop funding treatment and assistance for people with HIV or AIDS who contracted the virus "by the way they live."

Rep. Larry Brown told the Winston-Salem Journal he would also support a constitutional amendment to bar same-sex couples from marrying and would propose a bill to stop the government from helping people "living in perverted lifestyles."

"I'm not opposed to helping a child born with HIV or something, but I don't condone spending taxpayers' money to help people living in perverted lifestyles," Brown said. While he did not indicate exactly which groups fall under those "living in perverted lifestyles," he did say people who get HIV through sex or drugs should not be treated at the government's expense.

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, called Brown's comments "ill-informed," "hateful," and "extremely dangerous." He added, “hysterical, judgmental and inaccurate statements like Brown’s create an environment that prevents many from getting tested and seeking treatment, thereby furthering the spread of HIV and AIDS. Larry Brown’s conduct reflects poorly on his constituents and other elected officials. The people of North Carolina deserve better.”

In October, Brown was the cause of outrage when he sent an email to his Republican colleagues belittling an award given to then- State House speaker Joe Hackney, a Democrat.

"I hope all the queers are thrilled to see him," Brown wrote. "I am sure there will be a couple legislative fruitloops there in the audience."