"Published research does not provide definitive answers about why new HIV infections among young, black/African American gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) have increased. However, black/African American MSM of all ages experience racial disparities in health and are more likely than other gay and bisexual men of other races/ethnicities to encounter broader social and economic barriers. These and other factors place black/African American MSM at higher risk for HIV." “In fiscal year (FY) 2011, approximately 41percent of the CDC’s budget was targeted to HIV prevention activities for MSM.” CDC fact sheet.
I am stunned that “research” is blaming racial disparities and homophobia for the increase in HIV at a time when gay sex is practically being pushed into the forefront of every news story, and everyone should be covered with Obamacare.
Here’s the score. Anal sex is transmitting HIV, not poverty, not stigma, not society. And the more that is encouraged and normalized (by “safer” sex methods), the higher the transmission rate. Also, young people know there is treatment available if they develop HIV, so there is little reason to be cautious as men were becoming in the 80s.
New statistics from the New York Department of Health and Hygiene and the Centers for Disease Control show that, in New York City, the majority of 647 women who tested HIV-positive in 2012 acquired the virus through unprotected sex with bisexual men.
There is so much money being funneled into community based prevention and behavioral programs that recipients would be crazy to ever find a way to stop young men from having sex with each other an end the government gravy train. For example:
$111 million Expanded Testing Initiative (ETI)
$55 million to 34 states and cities to support HIV testing services for minority at-risk populations.
$240,000 over two years to two organizations—AIDS United
and theCenter for Black Equity (formerly the International Federation of Black Prides) to increase awareness
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Gay, bisexual, and other MSM acquire HIV at rates 44 times greater than other men and 40 times greater than women (CDC figures). However, AIDS, as well as anal cancer, Hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV) and lymphogranulma vernreum (LGV) infections, syphilis, gonorrhea and Hepatitis are increasingly blamed on others in society who do not have this sexual behavior. It’s racism and economic disparity that are the big push now in academe and non-profits, which can then get government grants to fight this terrible oppression and dissipate the money available for prevention, treatment and cure. Researchers should stop treating gay men as fragile and helpless victims. It's demeaning.
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