"AIDS" ◆ Equality for All People

The Chunichi Shimbun, Morning Edition – July 14, 2006

For Americans, the city of Philadelphia holds a special place in their hearts. It is where the Declaration of Independence—proclaiming liberty, equality, and fraternity—was adopted, marking the birth of the United States.

The film Philadelphia (1993), in which Tom Hanks plays a lawyer diagnosed with AIDS, is also a powerful work that questions the meaning of equality and human dignity.

Andrew, an elite lawyer at a prestigious law firm, is one day diagnosed with AIDS by his doctor. The firm fabricates a mistake and fires him.

Determined to fight this injustice, Andrew decides to file a lawsuit. However, prejudice against AIDS and homosexuality is so intense that he cannot find a lawyer to take his case. Eventually, he turns to Miller (played by Denzel Washington), an African-American attorney he once opposed in court. Though reluctant at first, Miller is moved by Andrew’s words—“For the love of the law and justice”—and takes on the case.

At the time, AIDS was considered a "death sentence." As Andrew’s immune system deteriorates and he grows weaker, he ultimately wins a verdict recognizing his unfair dismissal. One particularly moving scene features Miller being asked by a TV interviewer whether homosexuals should receive special treatment. He replies, “This is the city where the Declaration of Independence was adopted, guaranteeing the right to equality. It’s not that ordinary people are equal—but that all people are equal.”

Even today, AIDS claims the lives of around three million people annually. In impoverished African nations, many patients cannot access the medication they need. While mortality rates in developed countries have dropped significantly, persistent prejudice and discrimination continue to cause suffering for those living with the disease. In Japan, accurate knowledge about prevention has not spread sufficiently among younger generations, and the number of patients and infected individuals continues to rise unchecked.

Medical professionals who look down on homosexuals, and educators who oppose teaching children about condoms on the grounds that it “encourages sexual activity,” must be encouraged to acquire proper knowledge and awareness.