In Gail Bell’s article (‘A Quiet Anniversary’, November) ‘Jodie’ of Newcastle states that she doesn’t bother “with ACON [formerly the AIDS Council of NSW] because it’s all about the gays in Darlinghurst”. The subsequent quote attributed to me – “it is difficult for an organisation established for a sexual minority to be a general service provider” – could be misconstrued as affirming this view.

What I tried to communicate over the course of a lengthy discussion with Gail Bell is that many people find it difficult to accept that an organisation established by a sexual minority can be a general service provider. While “the gays in Darlinghurst” have been disproportionately affected by HIV, we are most emphatically not “just about them”. We have branches in Newcastle, Lismore and Wollongong, a women and families support program, and are proud that 29% of our home care clients are women and heterosexual men, who continue to be satisfied with the service they receive.

Alan Brotherton

Director, Policy, Strategy & Research, ACON

Darlinghurst, NSW