Nude AIDS activists arrested in Boehner's office

Naked AIDS activists, with painted slogans on their bodies, protest inside the lobby of the Capitol Hill office of House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, prior to World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. / AP Photo/Susan Walsh

WASHINGTON - Three women AIDS activists saying they wanted to highlight the "naked truth" about potential spending cuts in HIV programs were arrested Tuesday after taking their clothes off in the lobby of House Speaker John Boehner's office.

The trio had the words "AIDS cuts kill" painted on their bodies and had linked arms with four men who also disrobed as part of the protest. The nude protesters, along with dozens of other clothed demonstrators chanted slogans, including: "People with AIDS are under attack. What do we do? Fight back."

The three women were arrested by Capitol Police as they mingled with other protesters in the hall outside Boehner's district office after putting their clothes back on. The naked male protesters appeared to have left.

"People with AIDS are sick and tired of being pushed over the cliff," said Jennifer Flynn, 40, of New York City, who was among those arrested. "We need to make sure they stop going after people with AIDS."

Michael Tikili, 26, of New York City, said he is HIV-positive and depends on Medicaid for treatment.

"Just the idea of these programs being cut is horrible," Tikili said.

The protest occurred as congressional leaders and President Obama seek a deal to avert automatic spending cuts and tax increases in January. A coalition of AIDS activist groups gathering in Washington for Saturday's World AIDS Day organized the protest.

[mattrick78]

Smilestoo replies:
If we are spending money on charitable contributions and foreign aid to other countries, surely we can spend money here at home. What is disgusting is that all of the talk is about cutting here at home, and no one is talking about cutting the tax dollars to the wealthy in other countries.
================================================

If we have to borrow money to spend money on charitable contributions and foreign aid then spending in those areas should be curtailed as well.

[jamie047]

Abstinence and keeping your clothes on is a better option for stopping AIDS/HIV not a total lack of self-discipline and self-control.

[PomoSapien]

So why were only the women arrested? Is the GOP so accustomed to treating women's bodies as hostile occupied territory that even the police know to act that way around them?

[USEagles]

Hey butt head...READ the article!!!! Women were arrested because the men had already left. The women "hung" around to mingle. Also they were not in a GOP's office they were in the hall. Also, I am not a Repub.

[Mays2011]

the men were smart and left instead of waiting around with other protesters to be arrested...

[OnTheCrown]

MATHION replies: When will the idiots who cite "personal responsibility" get it through their heads that these diseases kill people who ARE "personally responsible"?
=================================

Which part of "for the most part" didn't you get?

[Smilestoo]

There are babies born with HIV.

[mattrick78]

That is why "for the most part" it is spread due to the lack of personal responsibility. If people were more responsible with how they conducted themselves, less babies would be born with HIV.

[alwaysaway]

I've got this really crazy idea. This stuff just comes to me out of nowhere. Why don't these activists get themselves and all their entire community to commit to getting themselves regularly tested for HIV? Crazy isn't it? If you think that one was nuts, here's another. WHAT IF, they also make a covenant, that they will all wear condoms during sex??? Oh, the countless lives not wasted. Where's John Lennon when you need him?

[brasileira2]

Right on!

[Smilestoo]

If we are spending money on charitable contributions and foreign aid to other countries, surely we can spend money here at home. What is disgusting is that all of the talk is about cutting here at home, and no one is talking about cutting the tax dollars to the wealthy in other countries.

[Ulgnud]

Why should AIDS get any more attention than any number of nasty ailments that do us in?

[OnTheCrown]

Exactly.

[Mathion]

It's not getting more attention, actually. Compared to other diseases, AIDS research receives less money than most.

Hence the protest over cuts in AIDS research.

Duh...

[kbbpll]

I see the Boehner jokes have already been taken.

[OnTheCrown]

Michael Tikili, 26, of New York City, said he is HIV-positive and depends on Medicaid for treatment.
=====================================

...while HIV for the most part depends on a lack of responsibility to spread it.

[OnTheCrown]

I am for treating everything and for paying it, but unfortunately we have limited funds to do it. Paying to treat diseases that are preventable is only a part of the solution. Most of it comes down to personal responsibility.

[Mathion]

When will the idiots who cite "personal responsibility" get it through their heads that these diseases kill people who ARE "personally responsible"?

No, these morons focus in on gay sex. Never mind that it can pass from a needle to a nurse or doctor, that infections can pass to a fetus.

Are you advocating that the fetus be personally responsible?

What about the man or woman who gets it from an irresponsible spouse? Leave them to die because they were merely doing what married couples do? And assuming the infected spouse got it irresponsibly is both moronic and invidious.

How about just treating it no matter how it was contracted and leave the moralizing Bulls**T out of it, okay?

[mickeylawry]

Did Boehner Have An Erection ? !!!!!

[OnTheCrown]

How long did it take for you to come up with that?

[mysteriousjz]

Sleazy lifestyle leads to diseases