MH17: 298

The International AIDS Society (IAS) today expresses its sincere sadness at receiving news that a number of colleagues and friends en route to attend the 20th International AIDS Conference taking place in Melbourne, Australia, were on board the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight that has crashed over Ukraine earlier today.

At this incredibly sad and sensitive time, the IAS stands with our international family and sends condolences to the loved ones of those who have been lost to this tragedy.

The IAS is hearing unconfirmed reports that some of our friends and colleagues were on board the flight and if that is the case this is a truly sad day.

The IAS has also heard reports that among the passengers was a former IAS president, Joep Lange, and if that is the case then the HIV/AIDS movement has truly lost a giant...

IAS Statement.

Let us not rush to judge, please. It's not what these men and women would have wanted.

I know blaming Putin for everything is a national sport, but still...

[Some initial reports said 100 delegates died, this has now been downscaled to six. Gosh, it's almost like everything we've heard about this story is nonsense. Edit: How and why the media got it wrong].

Gay Star News.

Gay Star News - Corrected just 6 days later!

Update: And the award for the most tenuous and wrong-headed attempt to try and wring a gay angle out of this human tragedy goes to... The Advocate!