Discover story on AIDS denialist Peter Duesberg shows he's a narcissist, racist and homophobe

AIDSTruth does not normally welcome the publication of any article in a mainstream magazine that features Peter Duesberg or any other AIDS denialist. Any publicity for AIDS denialists and their scientifically rejected views could increase the chances that vulnerable individuals will die, either by believing that HIV is harmless or that ARVs cause AIDS. That AIDS denialism kills is unquestionable (see, for example, our pages on denialism and politics [1] as well as about denialists who have died [2]).

The recent article in Discover Magazine (Peter's Principles, by Jeanne Lenzer [3]) is an exception, however, so we are pleased to post it on AIDSTruth. There is much in the article with which we do not agree - it does not make it clear enough that Duesberg and his fellow denialists are simply wrong on all aspects of the science that they attempt to promote. However, the article confirms what we have been saying on AIDSTruth [4]:

• Duesberg's career was in terminal decline before he declared that HIV was not the cause of AIDS, because of his maverick and scientifically flawed views on oncogenes and cancer.
• Duesberg's current views on cancer have been rejected by the relevant research community, because they are as mistaken as his opinions on HIV/AIDS.
• Duesberg is a racist homophobe who utters hateful words without thinking of their impact.
• Duesberg has sought controversy throughout his career for the sake of it, because he craves personal publicity and because he resents the success of other scientists with more talent and better judgment than he himself possesses.

We therefore urge people to read this article, and ask themselves why it is that the views promoted by a man like Peter Duesberg have helped kill so many innocent people all over the world, and particularly in South Africa. Is President Mbeki truly comfortable seeking the advice of a man who refers to the majority of the South African population as "Schwarzes" (the German equivalent of the N-word)?