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In Donna Summer’s 1989 letter to ACT UP, singer denied saying AIDS was God’s punishment to gays

Imagine if this day and age, Donna Summer were quoted as saying something as awful as AIDS is God’s punishment to gays.

If she had been misquoted, it would have been cleared up quickly on her Twitter feed or Facebook page and if she really did say it, she would be contacted by GLAAD, be publicly educated then probably go on an apology tour.

But in 1983, when Village Voice reported that Miss Summer had said this, she did not go into damage control mode and as a result, her career nosedived after eight years of mega success.

This week, AIDS and gay rights activist Peter Staley shared on his blog the text of a letter Summer wrote to the group ACT UP in 1989 after some members of the group were involved in a shoving match at a Boston Pride event as they tried to stop the playing of one of her songs.

Summer, who died last month, had written a letter to ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) trying to clear things up.

The singer said she had not responded immediately after the comments attributed to her were published because at around that time she gave birth to two babies in 18 months, was involved in a major lawsuit and had suffered through some deaths in her family.

‘My manager at the time felt my life and emotional health was at stake so there was no response,’ she explained.

‘Since then, however, I have made numerous replies and spoken openly to try and clear up this misunderstanding,’ she wrote. ‘I cannot force you to believe what I tell you, so if you choose to continue on with this fighting and arguing, that’s up to you. I did not say God is punishing gays with aids, I did not sit with ill intentions in judgement over your lives. I haven’t stopped talking to my friends who are gay, nor have I ever chosen my friends by their sexual preferences.’

‘We have too many good memories together to live in this state of unforgiveness,’ she added. ‘I never denied you or turned you away. … It as never my intention to reject you but to extend myself in love.’

FILE UNDER: Controversy

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  1. She addresses it in this interview as well:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcAGC0SXD7w

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