Cirque du Soleil defends prohibition of HIV-positive performers

[davidinalameda]

http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=10787&sd=12/17/03

In response to an investigation by the the San Francisco Human Rights Commission into unlawful discrimination against people with HIV, Cirque du Soleil sent a letter to the city stating that the company would hire HIV-positive workers only for positions that don't involve bodily contact, such as dishwashers, food and beverage staff, office assistants, prep cooks, ushers, and merchandise "hawkers." The Montreal-based troupe has admitted to firing openly gay gymnast Matthew Cusick in July solely because he has HIV, prompting a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission and the subsequent investigation by San Francisco, which is renting out property to the company for its show Alegria. "Even 20 years ago, Cirque du Soleil's comments would be suspect," said Hayley Gorenberg, AIDS project director for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, which is representing Cusick. "Today, they are shockingly ignorant. If Cirque du Soleil ran the Lakers in the 1990s, Magic Johnson would have been transferred to wash dishes in the stadium restaurant after he disclosed his HIV status."


how freaking lame

[Drifter]

1. This is a tough one ...

I see your point.

If other performers chose not to perform with someone who is HIV positive (which is certainly their right), the show may suffer or not exist at all.

I certainly believe that if there is a performer who is HIV positive, that everyone should know about it (especially those who are at risk of exposure).

Cheers
Drifter

[Cronus Protagonist]

13. The only people at risk of exposure are his fuck partners

Not any of the other performers, unless they're all fucking each other...

FUCK BUSH Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[pinerow]

2. If you remove the secrecy and the stigma of being HIV positive,

it would go a long way to keep from "blaming the afflicted"

[davidinalameda]

3. when you have nimrods like the Cirque people

saying asanine things like this--you further stigmatize people with the virus

do you have any idea how hard it is to become infected with HIV--you have to be bled on and the blood has to go into an open wound--saliva kills the virus--or into a membrane

no one should be performing if they have an open wound anyway--it could lead to infection from the million other things floating around in the air

they're clearly in the wrong and the city should shut them down

[KittyWampus]

4. Do We Know What Their Insurance Policy Dictates?

just wondering...

[bicentennial_baby]

6. I'm going to have to agree with you

The Cirque people are highly out of line here and are blatantly discriminating.

[pinto]

5. I have AIDS and I'm surprised "Cirque" hasn't addressed this as an

internal issue, up front and clearly. Any performer may have a blood borne disease. Cirque could have developed protocols for any possible blood exposures among "contact" personnel long ago and put this to rest. And educated staff on the real life possibilities of exposure during a performance.

I also understand the concerns we all have about infection and transmission. But, Geez, every large employer in US has done something to deal with this stuff. Ending up in court was completely avoidable. Cirque ought to know better.

[J B]

7. Um, just wondering, but...

Aren't circuses dangerous places where there is some sort of standing risk of blood being spilt?

Just wondering...

[slackmaster]

8. That's always been my impression

They're normally not as bloody as a hockey game, but blood does get spilt.

[DulceDecorum]

9. Ethics

are such gray areas....

"Whatever Cirque's formal policies are, it blocks people with HIV from positions where they can safely perform, and that's discrimination. There has never been a case of an athlete transmitting HIV during performance or competition. Our client's dream job is to be a performer, not a dishwasher. Because he's qualified to be a performer and can do that job safely, that's the job he should have."

It is going to be interesting to see what they mean when they say "safely perform."

It is a little like a hospital terminating
a surgeon with HIV
because
HE IS A SURGEON WITH HIV.
Can you IMAGINE what the malpractice insurance would be on a chap like that?
And even though surgeons do NOT routinely cut themselves in the operating room and
they ALL wear sturdy gloves
and wash up thorughly beforehand,
a lot of people would choose to go elsewhere and this could make it VERY difficult for the hospital to function.
Plus, unlike the surgeon,
this guy has to practise practise practise.
It is not just a case of a single performance every so often.

Mind you the Cirque is still willing to keep him on in another capacity but he does not find this agreeable.
Lets see what Ahnold says.

[colorado_ufo]

10. It is a complex and heart-wrenching problem, but

re: surgery, those surgical gloves are not all that "sturdy," and yes, cuts happen ALL the time. I used to work in surgery back in the days before HIV was discovered, and I know this for a fact (been cut myself several times). For a small cut, one just double-gloves. For a large cut, you were not allowed to work.

Surgery is often fast-paced, with multiple doctors and assistants all passing sharp instruments. It's just the way it is. The really scary part is that cuts happen DURING surgery - and sometimes, in a bloody operating field and wearing snug fitting gloves, you are not immediately aware that you have been cut.

What a tragedy, though, for a surgeon to have to leave his or her practice, considering the amount of school and training that goes into the making of a surgeon.

[davidinalameda]

11. it's all acrobatics

there are no lions nor tigers nor anything like that

the worse that could happen is someone fall

the guy told Cirque about his having HIV when they hired him--their own doctors cleared him

it's discrimination

this is more from the same article

Matthew Cusick was dismissed in July by the world famous acrobatic circus because he is HIV positive. Even though Cusick never hid his status, and the company's own doctors cleared him to safely perform, Cirque du Soleil management told Cusick that because he has HIV the company would not continue to employ him.

they're playing on the fears of the public primarily--

With respect to its show in San Francisco, Cirque said that it contracts with temporary staffing agencies and "there are many employment positions that would be suited to an individual with HIV."

Cirque went on to say, "These positions include dishwashers, dining room attendants, prep cooks, box office staff, box office assistants, ushers, hosts/hostesses, food and beverage staff, public sales assistants, merchandising staff and hawkers. Any one of these positions could be filled by an individual with HIV because these jobs do not involve constant bodily contact with others and a high degree of potential injury with possible bodily fluid exposure."

I would think that being a prep cook and being around knives would provide a greater chance of exposure than an acrobate.

as

[Cronus Protagonist]

14. There are no animals at Cirque

It's all tumbling, gymnastics and artistic impression. And I notice that the Olympics hasn't banned HIV+ gymnasts, nor has the World Ice Skating orgs, or any other major sporting outfit. This is just plain ignorance.

FUCK BUSH Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[Ellen Forradalom]

12. I see few opportunities for exposure while performing acrobatics

Universal precautions is sufficient for an incident like Greg Louganis' Olympic accident.

[noonwitch]

15. I would think that the cirque would have some type of safety program

that would address this situation, and minimize any potential risks. Although I know it's possible, I have yet to hear of a case of an infected person transmitting the virus to another person from an open cut bleeding into another open cut.

Not that I would ever go to that weird-ass circus anyways. I hate mimes and anything that reminds me of them. I'd rather see the Ringling Brothers/Barnum Bailey, or the Shriners circus anyday.

[Ripley]

16. Wow, too bad for you.

I've seen about 4 of Cirque's shows and as an artist I find them to be the most moving, athletic pieces of performance art I have ever witnessed. The intense live music alone is worth going. BTW, I don't care for mimes either, but the few mime-types in the shows are more like mute surreal anti-heros, instead of sappy clowns in boxes.

I hate Ringling Brothers, etc. because the abuse of elephants and tigers is pretty widespread. Besides, how natural is it to see those animals wearing skirts?

As far as the HIV issue, it sounds like flat out fear to me more than discrimination. Their shows are very intense and I saw one guy break a leg and have to leave the show. They don't use nets. I've also heard their latest show in Vegas was sexual....whether they actually exchange bodily fluids or not I don't know.

[davidinalameda]

17. the Vegas show is erotic, not sexual

big difference

there are two men kissing <GASP>

they're partners in real life

[Ripley]

18. Ok, thanks for explaining.

Yes, I know the difference. :eyes: I said I had only heard someone mention it, I didn't know the details.

Was the <GASP> meant for me? Now why would you think that would shock me? Because I didn't jump on the bandwagon of trying to bring down an entire performance act whom I happen to enjoy and which employs hundreds of very creative people, based on your accusation that they are discriminating. Shouldn't the courts rule on that?

Sheesh.

[beyurslf]

19. They have no business knowing his HIV status.

If there is an accident, universal precautions should be taken. This means you always treat bodily fluids as if they are infected with a virus--regardles of whether or not you think they have something.

It is blatant discrimination. An employer has absolutely no right to know my medical status unless it directly affects my performance. Saying that an accident could occur which might result in medical treatment being administered is NOT an affect of performance; it is the result of an accident.

Coming out with HIV status may help to diminish the stigma but it may not. It's been 15 years since Magic Johnson's announcement. Has it stopped? Even if it would help with curbing ignorance, the person will very likely have to endure hurtful comments and discrimination. I applaud those brave enough to do it, but can find no fault in those who do not. Telling those you love and know about HIV status is like coming out of the closet all over again. It is hurtful. It is painful. It is emotional. It is the most difficult thing I ever did and absolutely no one has the right to make me do it. I can find no if's or but's or exceptions to this.

[mam1959]

20. cirque

They should have called in a competent medical team to deal with bloodborne health and safety concerns for all of their staff, and not any one individual in particular. Hardly a novel concept - every major sports team does the same - and although Cirque is an arduous physical endeavor, it frankly doesn't compare to the NFL in terms of its propensity for harm, wounding and injury. Cirque also was ill advised to focus solely on HIV. They travel all over the world, leaving their staff (through no fault of their own) susceptible to hepatitis and other health problems. Simply have a competent medical/training team available - as I state, sports teams do it each and every day. Cirque is a big business, and they can certainly purchase resources to obtain a result other than fear and hysteria.