Why we can't have nice government: Charlotte leaders say the city's high HIV infection rate is imported by rich out-of-state homosexuals who check into uptown hotels, then spread out into poor neighborhoods to infect minority residents.

From the 1975 Woody Allen film, Love and Death, the Village Idiots' Convention in Minsk, Russia. Whether its future conference venues include Charlotte is unknown.

WCNC-TV:

Gibbie Harris, the new director of Mecklenburg County's Health Department, told the county's board of commissioners at a meeting last month that one of the reasons why the county has an HIV rate that doubles the rest of the state is because it is home to Charlotte.

"It can be a party town," Harris said. "It can be a place where people come in, enjoy themselves for the weekend and then leave, but then leave stuff behind."

...When asked whether Harris wanted to clarify her comments about Charlotte's party scene contributing to HIV, a spokesperson said the director is declining to say anything else.

And she has backup:

However, county manager Dena Diorio appears to be doubling down on Harris' comments, saying:

Gibbie was referring to events in large metropolitan areas that attract crowds of residents and visitors where higher-risk behavior could occur. She has direct knowledge of these in Wake County and along the east coast, and has heard anecdotally that they also occur in Mecklenburg County. Public Health will continue working with residents and visitors to encourage them to protect themselves and others.