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Glenn Richard Albert Mills - Source: ONE News -
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A 40-year-old HIV-positive man accused of infecting five people with the virus has angered the gay community and prompted a safe sex wake-up call.
Glenn Richard Albert Mills, an Auckland train driver, had his name suppression lifted in Auckland District Court on Friday.
He also had two further charges laid against him.
He now faces 14 charges relating to seven victims, six male and one female. Five of the men have tested HIV positive.
The charges include wounding or attempted wounding with reckless disregard, infecting with a disease and attempting to infect with a disease.
Mills was remanded in custody for a pre-depositions hearing on July 1.
Bruce Kilmister, chief executive at Body Positive, New Zealand's HIV positive support organisation, said the alleged charges significantly changed a lot of people's lives.
"Everybody who has had an association with him in the past should come forward for a test.
"But it's also a timely reminder that everybody has a responsibility to keep themselves safe and follow safe sex practice.
"HIV positive people have an added responsibility not to transmit the virus, and the best way they can do that is to have safe sex."
The fact a woman had allegedly been affected raised concerns the virus may have spread into the heterosexual community.
"The reality is that most women think of the pill as the beginning and end of safe sex. It needs to be a message that goes right across the broad spectrum."
HIV activist and researcher Michael Stevens was pleased that name suppression was lifted on Friday.
"It will enable people who have been in contact with him to find out if they are HIV positive or not, and they need to get tested."
He said the overall reaction in the gay community was anger.
The case had undermined the gay community over the past 20 years in terms of HIV education and work.
Police said Mills was diagnosed HIV-positive in May 2007 and had allegedly had an active sex life with men and women since.
Police said he profiled himself as a 32-year-old on various website and telephone dating services, attempting to solicit partners throughout the country and possibly overseas.
Anyone who wanted to get tested should call 0800 HIV LINE.
