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From: Robbie.Bates@p1.f381.n634.z3.fidonet.org (Robbie Bates)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Australian AIDS News
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Date: 22 Jul 90 18:41:22 GMT
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Note:	Copyright 1990 by Daniel R. Greening.  Permission granted for
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Archive-number: 2290

CATHOLIC CHEMIST CONFRONTED BY CONDOMS

Melbourne, Australia, 13 July 1990 (MSO)

Two giant condoms invaded a chemist on July 5 to demand the availability
of their little latex brothers. The pharmacy at 211 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy (a Melbourne suburb) does not stock the modern-day essentials because 
proprietor andardent Catholic Geoff Belleville believes they are "morally 
wrong".

"It's my right to carry what I like," he told MSO. "I don't stock guns,
pornography or condoms because of my moral philosophy."

The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT-UP) called the light- hearted
protest, which also featured street music and placards, to make the
point that a person's religious beliefs should not be allowed to
endanger human lives.

"In the age of HIV/AIDS and safe sex education, the one place you
expect/demand to buy condoms is at your local chemist," said an ACT-UP
member. "Chemists are the major dispenser of health products to the
community, and therefore are obligated to provide products for the
prevention of ill-health."

Belleville conceded that Fitzroy was "a very gay area" and that he would
stand to profit from prescriptions filled for people with HIV contracted
through unsafe sex, but he enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to
tell the attending TV cameras that condoms were "not what the good Lord
put us on this world for", that they encouraged "sexual selfishness" and
that "the prime purpose of the sex act is for procreation".

Belleville's high moral stance was questioned by ACT-UP protestor
Meredith Gunn, who told MSO that she had previously bought both
contraceptive pills and a "morning-after" (chemical abortion) pill from
the same chemist. "He's the worst sort of hypocrite," she said.

With God on his side, however, Belleville decided to (as he put it)
"wash the scum from the footpath" with a garden hose. Police took him
aside and counselled him against chosing that moment to hose the
footpath after a number of dampened demonstrators' started to hurl
condoms and abuse. The action ended good- naturedly enough however, with
the two six-foot condoms and other demonstrators skipping-off down
Brunswick street to hand out condoms and have a coffee.

Belleville was last seen chatting with police officers inside the safety
of his Catholic condom-free chemist.

ACT-UP says it is compiling a list of other chemists who don't sell
condoms, and that actions are planned against them. Readers can register
any condom-free chemists by leaving a message on the ACT-UP line 525
4258.

The group is also encouraging people to stage their own individual
protests, such as demanding to see the manager or "take a whole lot of
things to the cash register and, after they're rung-up, ask for some
condoms. If you are refused, complain bitterly and walk out without
paying".

[ (C) 1990 Oz Media Ltd. Melbourne Australia. Used By Permission ]

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