Interview With Hal Sparks, Craig Miller
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: It was one of the first efforts to raise money and awareness about AIDS and the HIV virus. And tomorrow, citizens of Los Angeles will meet for the 19th annual event. The fund-raiser pulled in almost $2.5 million last year. From Los Angeles, I spoke with actor Hal Sparks. And I was also joined here in Atlanta by the creator of AIDS Walk, Craig Miller.</s>LIN: Good evening to both of you.</s>HAL SPARKS, ACTOR, QUEER AS FOLK: Hi.</s>CRAIG MILLER. AIDS WALK CREATOR: Good to be here.</s>LIN: Hal, what is it going to be like? You've done the walk before for several years now. What is it like to walk that road, the 10-K?</s>SPARKS: It's great. It's like walking with 10,000 members of your immediate family. It's a very pleasant experience and not too long. I make sure to make sure that people walk. They don't run or skip. It is an AIDS walk, after all. There's no jogging. Yes.</s>LIN: What is the spirit out there? I mean, it is such a serious topic?</s>SPARKS: Yes, but that's, you know, just because I take a subject lightly, doesn't mean the subject is taken lightly. And I think we try and keep it fun. And it's like a celebration of life. I mean, you've got a lot of people out there who have been through a lot. And this is their opportunity to help. And I try to make it fun.</s>LIN: You know, Craig, it -- you -- the AIDS movement has come a long way. What is it that you're hoping to accomplish with the AIDS Walk here in Atlanta?</s>MILLER: Well, we're hoping to keep the pressure on, because the fact of the matter is, is that the AIDS epidemic, domestically here in the U.S., continues to just rage on with devastating consequences. Over the next 12 months, 40,000 more Americans are going to contract HIV. 18,000 people here in Georgia are living with HIV or AIDS. 52,000 people in L.A. County alone, living with HIV or AIDS. And it's important to remember that we are dealing with a disease that is often fatal, and as yet incurable.</s>LIN: Hal, why is it that, you know, Craig and I were just talking about this earlier. I mean, why is it that people are not practicing safe sex, when this story has been told time and time again for the last 20 years?</s>SPARKS: I think it's a natural rebellious psychological reflex. People have -- were in the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, were scared straight, as it were. They really -- it was an infective campaign. After a while though, the human brain needs to act out. And I think a lot of people are -- they start suppressing the facts and start behaving in a way contrary to that. I think that's really it.</s>LIN: I mean the problem almost is that there have been so many success stories. We're talking about Magic Johnson.</s>SPARKS: It's true.</s>LIN: You've got these wonderful drug therapies out there for people, Craig?</s>MILLER: Yes, but one area where we're not succeeding is by keeping the urgency of AIDS prevention visible at the street level, community by community throughout the United States. The domestic epidemic has been allowed to become far less visible than it needs to be. And when you ask the question, and it's a good question, why after all of these years do some of these unsafe sex practices occur? It's important to keep in mind, you know, we all understand how devastating smoking is to our health, yet it is very difficult for many people to cease smoking. We all understand the impact of diet and overeating on heart disease. And yet, many people continue to engage in behaviors that are -- run contrary to their health in those areas. I don't think we can expect anything different with regards to safer sex practices.</s>LIN: Really? I mean, Hal, what is it going to take for people to get the message then?</s>SPARKS: I don't know. Sexually speaking, I'm up to two packs a day.</s>LIN: Are you talking about condoms?</s>SPARKS: Yes.</s>LIN: You're a busy man.</s>SPARKS: I don't want to brag or anything.</s>LIN: It's a wonder you have time to shoot a series.</s>SPARKS: I -- you know, I don't know. I mean, it's a one to one thing. This is such an intimate issue, that it's going to be difficult to change people's minds.</s>MILLER: Part of what it takes for people to get the message is for the message to be visible.</s>LIN: I know it's going to be difficult.</s>MILLER: And neither our government, nor other major institutions that really are charged with protecting the public health, are living up to their obligations with regards to domestic HIV. That's why tens of thousands of people will be taking to the streets of Atlanta and Los Angeles tomorrow.</s>LIN: And we will see them. We will see them. Thank you very much, Craig Miller.</s>MILLER: Pleasure.</s>LIN: And Hal Sparks. Have fun tomorrow.</s>SPARKS: Thanks, I will.