Homophobic attitudes' preventing action against AIDS

The director of Australia's main AIDS organisation has urged the Federal Government to provide more financial and practical aid for HIV prevention programs in developing countries.

Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations director Don Baxter is in Mexico for a week-long conference on HIV and AIDS.

Mr Baxter says the meeting has heard there is now solid evidence that sex between men is a major factor in the growth of the HIV epidemic.

But he says many governments in these developing nations refuse to act because of what he describes as the "homophobic" attitudes of politicians.

He says it is up to countries such as Australia to lead the way.

"Australia's contribution in dollar terms to HIV in Asia and the pacific has been good," he said.

"But hardly any of it has gone on homosexual men and homosexual behaviour. That needs to be dramatically changed if we're going to help the Asian cities avoid major epidemics."