thanks for the warning Tommy
-- I have my sneeze guard on
On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 3:32 PM, Tommy News <tommysnews@gmail.com> wrote:
Today is National Gay Men's HIV Awareness Day
Posted by Lorraine Teel
Last update: September 27, 2010 - 12:50 PM
"At the beginning of the HIV epidemic -- with many deaths in the gay community -- fear was the educator. Today, thankfully death is not the teacher." So says Dr. Hanan Rosenstein, a local infectious disease doctor who has been treating local patients living with HIV since the early days of the HIV epidemic. I couldn't agree more.
Yes, both fear and death were indeed effective educators. Studies have shown that the behavioral changes undertaken by gay men to protect themselves during the 1980's in response to the newly-discovered disease of HIV were an unparalleled public health response – yet one with little to no support from elected officials. As we know, it took years for there even to be a response to AIDS at a federal level – especially when we take the time to look back at the immediate governmental responses to toxic shock syndrome and Legionnaire's Disease.Today is National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a report late last week that looks at the occurrence of HIV within the adult gay men's community across 21 cities in the US. The rates are astounding. Of the men participating in the study, one in five was infected, with black gay and bisexual men particularly impacted. More disturbing is the fact that nearly half (44%) did not even know they were infected.In the early days, death from AIDS surrounded us. And so did fear and stigma. But in the late 90's the world changed. Here in America, new medications began to bring people back to life. And those who were newly infected could take these medications and seem to live well without having to face the terrible diseases that those earlier in the epidemic suffered from. But sadly, stigma remained.That sudden coming back to life got coupled with the message "wow, this is easy; there's a pill for that." And that has sent the wrong message that HIV is well-controlled now. I won't even get into what it costs for someone living with HIV today to cover co-pays, deductibles, insurance premiums and the like over a lifetime of care. Or the long-term affect of taking these medications over a lifetime– shifting body fat, bone loss, cardiac and liver problems – it's a long list. Summed up is the fact that for all with HIV, infection is a life altering event and for some it will be life-ending.As I said, the meds are here, but we have failed to get rid of the stigma and fear. When it comes to HIV within the gay men's community; well, it's complicated. There remains a lack of practical and real knowledge due to a failure to educate young gay men. Why? Stigma. Seems like we just want to fight or rail against homosexuality rather than accept that some young men really are gay or bisexual. There's a lack of knowledge about one's status as we have failed to make HIV testing a part of our annual checkups. Why? Stigma. Many physicians hesitate bringing up HIV testing for fear that their patient might be offended that the doctor thinks they're gay.So our biggest barrier to reducing HIV infections amongst gay and bisexual men, most especially for those who are young, remains stigma. And let's be clear -- stigma about being gay is no small thing. One only has to read the local papers to hear about the bullying of gay students that continues in our schools and community that sadly lead to suicides. The vitriol that nuances being gay as "love the sinner, hate the sin" coming from many in our community to whom young people turn for guidance. The endless failures to provide young people with basic facts about HIV – in terms they understand. All adds up to stigma and fear -- stigma and fear despite nearly 30 years of fighting AIDS.Let's get real here. HIV isn't going away. Being gay isn't going away. The two do not have to be linked, but until we can reduce stigma and fear so that we can lower the rate of new infections and thus lower the prevalence in our community, we will continue to have a long road ahead of us.And Dr. Rosenstein is right – fear is no longer the educator and death is no longer the teacher. I'm relieved about that – but I am still fighting to get the message out that HIV is 100 percent preventable. But let's first get rid of the stigma so we can calmly and rationally talk about risk.More:http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUKcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI
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Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy__._,_.___MARKETPLACE
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