The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS

How a Tragedy Has Been Distorted by the Media and Partisan Politics

Michael Fumento (View Bio)
Hardcover: Basic Books, 1990; Paperback: Regnery, 1993.

"This is a backlash book that is thoroughly researched, poignantly written, and a must-read for anyone interested in learning the dynamics of the HIV epidemic or health care planning.... Fumento's book is currently the best single source available to enable heterosexual persons to assess their personal risk and, as an informed electorate, take a closer look at overall health care spending, particularly the power of political action committees, the media hype, and the influence of AIDS alarmists." — Virginia M. Anderson, M.D., Journal of the American Medical Association

"The best documented, most provocative and informative AIDS book since AND THE BAND PLAYED ON." — Booklist

"The arguments, statistics, and perceptions he addresses to support his position appear almost as irrefutable as they are controversial." — David Shaw, The New York Times Book Review

"Mr. Fumento marshals a substantial amount of epidemiological data and interprets it in a credible fashion to support his contention. He demonstrates successfully that the 'heterosexual break-out' widely predicted in the mid-1980s has failed to materialize and does not seem likely to. The book is well worth reading for this critical re-interpretation of the available data." — Andrew M. Wiesenthal, M.D., New England Journal of Medicine

"A merciless — though often legitimate — indictment of the purveyors of panic.... Fumento is right to point out that this disproportionate focus on white, middle class heterosexuals has helped to contribute to the dearth of public health education targeted specifically at minorities — the group now at most risk.... Does the threat to these groups justify wholesale panic? Fumento emphatically says it does not. He may be right. Exaggerating the danger can diffuse scarce resources and be used to justify extreme measures." — Patricia Cohen, The Washington Monthly