Why Education is still Crucial

Toronto's Globe & Mail, 10 April 2008

Members of an HIV support group based in Prince George last week were delayed in boarding a flight at the Prince George Airport after an airport security guard allegedly said they were health risks to other passengers. The members and employees of the group Positive Living North were flying on the airline WestJet to a conference in Vancouver on March 28th. According to a spokesperson for the group, the flight was delayed for an hour because the guard expressed health concerns about the group flying and suggested the airport lounge and plane would need to be "wiped down" after the flight.

Catherine Baylis, a Positive Living Director, said the airport staff first asked the head of the group whether any members had been drinking alcohol before the morning flight. Then staff informed members that arrangements were being made to seat the group together, even though the members already were sitting together. The group also was told there were mechanical difficulties.

However, Baylis was later told that the guard had suggested the lounge and plane be cleaned. "An attendant confirmed for her that a security guard had said this and the plane couldn't leave because he recognized one of our members," Baylis said. "He didn't name the disease or the person, only that he recognized them and everything would have to be wiped down on the plane after they left, and it was for the safety of everyone," she added.

According to the Globe & Mail, when the WestJet pilot became aware of the situation, he overruled the guard and the group boarded the plane. WestJet spokesperson Richard Bartrem said the airline would never consider "wiping down" a plane after carrying HIV-positive passengers. "It's not that our captain realized there was an issue, it was more a question of realizing there was a non-issue," Bartrem said. "Unfortunately, we took a delay in sorting this out," he said, adding that security workers "have a role to fulfill and 99 times out of 100 the whole system works very well".

Joe Gaviggin, spokesperson for Garda World Security, which employs the security guards at the airport, said the company became aware of the incident on Monday, the Prince George Citizen reports. "We are looking into this to try to figure out exactly what did happen," he said, adding, "Once we're able to do that, then we'll be in a position to decide what actions need to be taken," he said. The company has agreed to provide sensitivity training to its employees, the Citizen reports.

Baylis said the training will take place May 8th. She added that the group would like a public apology, "but I know that we can't demand one." The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority said it is still investigating the incident. A spokesperson for the authority said that it is waiting for a detailed report of what happened and that it will dictate its response toward the security guard (Prince George Citizen).

VARCS' along with many other HIV groups across Canada are staying on top of this story to see what the outcome will be and if public actions by these groups will be necessary. Along with this story, and the incident with the judge in Ontario in February, (where the judge wanted an HIV-Positive witness to wear a mask and gloves and didn't want him touching any paperwork so it wouldn't have to be sterilized) proves how much work, including prevention and education, advocacy and all information pertaining to HIV/AIDS awareness is still mandatory. These are only 2 stories that hit the media. We can only imagine how many go unnoticed or are directed towards those who don't have their voice or feel they don't have any options and don't know about the support available to them. Again, we cannot let those who fought discrimination 2 decades ago be lost, we must never assume the work is done until HIV/AIDS has a cure or there is not one new infection ever! A tall order I know, we must carry on!