Censorship in Support Groups, share your opinion please.?

My hiv support group in philadelphia has met for 13 years. I joined our weekly meetings six yrs ago. I almost never miss a group, even when i was in agony before my hip replacement, the one time i would leave the house, and never miss, was for group, heat, cold, rain, snow, you name it, i have been a loyal contributing member in good standing, as have nearly all group members.

Our guideline established many years ago, determined that EVERYTHING IS HIV RELATED, because hiv affects every aspect of our lives, and that no topics are off limits. If it affects YOU, then its a valid topic.

Last night, i was informed that an 'inner circle' of five members has decided for the rest of us, ( a core group of about two dozen who frequent the meetings, altho usually there are a dozen or less at any given meeting, and then we have an extended years long group of people who come much less often but remain in contact with particular members, and in our email group)... well, a core inner circle of about five of them, got together in a back-channel discussion and decided that THEY would be the ones now , who decide which topics are 'permitted" and which topics are forbidden.

The topic that has been banned is something I introduced, or tried to introduce over a year ago, and we HAVE had many discussions about it, altho some of those discussions were more like attempts to silence the topic, rather than actually addressing the topic.

So ive set out online to contact as many people as possible to see what their differing opinions might be. In general, the topic i raised was the many dissident hiv scientists who have opposing opinions about alot of the science upon which hiv research, treatment, and politics is based. Never has a single topic been banned in this group, and as i said above, we explicitly welcome ALL TOPICS.

Now a key core inner circle has decided to censor, ban, gag, silence, and supress vital information from many leading hiv scientists.... as well as creating this unhealthy precedent that the few decide for the many.

Your thoughts are deeply and personally appreciated. Im in terrible mourning over this loss, and after such a long and intimate relationship with this group, and despite pointing out the BLATANT UNFAIR PREJUDICE of this situation, was greeted, literally, with blank stares, excuses, and an attempt to make it look like i was trying to say things i did NOT say. All i have tried to introduce is a discussion about the various opinions, some of whom are calling for all the original hiv scientific studies to be 're evaluated'. Nothing more.

I dont really HAVE an opinion yet, i havent learned enough to form a reasonable opinion.

I feel like ive been singled out for silence, because this is a hot topic, and yes, im taking it personally, because its a very personal selective decision to ban MY topic when MANY other topics that pertain only to ONE member, are given full rights, full respect, full discussion, and proper treatment.

Please send me your opinions and insights, and similar or different situations, suggestions, etc.

-Taoe, phillyreikimaster@hotmail.com

Looks like it's time to get rid of that inner circle.