The recently re-branded Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline has sought to distance itself from journalist Dan Wootton after “odious” Hollywood HIV article.
The UK’s largest helpline for the LGBT community “mutually” ended Dan Wootton’s patronage of the charity back in June but after an article in which he alleges a Hollywood actor has HIV was heavily criticised for it’s “scaremongering” language and taking reportage of HIV back to the 80s, has sought to distance itself from the controversial writer.
A statement released by the Helpline charity reads,
“Switchboard brought Dan Wootton on as a Patron during our re-brand in June 2015 to provide media support. Following the re-brand we mutually agreed to end our relationship and Dan has had no involvement with Switchboard since that time.”
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Daniel Browne, the founder of LGBT charity Push Projects, writing for THEGAYUK, called Wooton’s reportage “odious” and said,
“Let’s begin with the fact that regardless of this person’s fame, everybody has a right to privacy and confidentiality, particularly when it comes to something such as medical records. Running this story is an absolute invasion of privacy.”
