Let’s start with the bad news, shall we?
The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta this weekend revealed that previous HIV infection stats were underreported by 40%.
[CDC] found that 56,300 people became newly infected with H.I.V in 2006, compared with the 40,000 figure the agency has cited as the recent annual incidence of the disease.
The findings confirm that H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, has its greatest effect among gay and bisexual men of all races (53 percent of all new infections) and among African-American men and women.
Bummer.
Obviously distressed by the numbers, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama released the following statement:
These new figures should bring new focus to our efforts to address AIDS and HIV here at home.
As president, I am committed to developing a National AIDS Strategy to decrease new HIV infections and improve health outcomes for Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Across the nation, we also need to prevent the spread of HIV and get people into treatment by expanding access to testing and comprehensive education programs. This report also demonstrates the need for more timely data about HIV transmission so that we can effectively evaluate prevention efforts.
Republican rival John McCain also released a statement, saying that we must work toward “promoting prevention efforts, encouraging testing, targeting communities with high infection rates, strengthening research and reducing disparities through effective public outreach.” McCain went on to say that “we as a nation” can overcome HIV/AIDS.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Bob R
Looks to me that all that abstinence education is finally starting to bear fruit. Unfortunately, it’s a very bitter and deadly fruit. Condoms, needle exchanges, look at programs that are working, here and abroad and duplicate them. And stop drug companies from advertising HIV medications using handsome studs as typical of those afflicted with HIV. Talk about the REAL side effects of HIV meds like lipodystrophy. How about instead of spending billions in Iraq, maybe taking the money spent there in a month or two or even three and funding research? But no, we’ll continue with faith based abstinence initiatives. We’re a nation of lunatics lead by a psychopath.
Qjersey
Well you’d think the “crisis” was over by the way the Gay community treats HIV. Gay Marriage front page news, HIV, not so much. Hookup sites rampant with guys looking to bareback or are “uninhibited.”
The feds may not be throwing $$$ to HIV prevention in the gay community, but our community “leaders” have been asleep at the wheel too.
CitizenGeek
I have to agree with QJersey, gay leaders like Joe Solomnese, Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin really aren’t talking about HIV any more and they really ought to be!
Raven
I don’t understand how this article, which is important is being listed on Queerty yet the most recent research on a potential HIV Cure was totally ignored. The article and video can be found at http://www.kvue.com/news/state/stories/072908kvuehivbreakthrough-cb.14e217f8.html
Granted it is only “potential” but it’s the best news to date. I have to wonder where the priorities are here.
Trenton
People still seem to think it’s a plague…but a plague with which one can comfortably live. I have heard people flat-out say that they don’t care if they catch it. Beyond being unfathomably ignorant, this atitude also seems to suggest that they don’t much careif they spread it, hich is loathsome. They will care if they catch it when they realize the complications that can arise from the use of HIV meds, not to mention the cost of them. I certainly hope that they have a good health care plan, because the meds don’t come cheap. As more companies switch to high deductible HSAs, having someone else foot the bill for prescriptions may no longer be a given, even for those who are gainfully employed.
ggreen
This “underreporting†was done deliberately by the Bushies and their cronies to save money on things like funding the Ryan White Care Act. The lower the number (even if false) the less money that will be spent on a particular disease. This also indirectly benefits pharmaceutical companies less prevention means more infections, more infections equal more drug sales.
The Bushies have been using this same creative under counting to rob all federal agencies and Social Security recipients from getting a cost of living increase. They never report real inflation, which over the last year is over 12%.
angus
I was there when aids was being described as a mysterious gay cancer. There was a theory that poppers might be the cause. I volunteered with aids support teams and saw seemingly healthy men die in months. I was angry at losing friends, and felt helpless and frustrated that this disease was taking such a toll. A few years ago a well educated 25 year old friend told me he was positive. I was shocked and angry. I was angry because he knew the risks of unsafe sex, and ignored them. I find it hard to understand why aids cases increase when it is so well known how aids is contracted. Keep your dick wrapped, practice safe sex, and don’t trust any sex partner to tell you the truth about their hiv status; hell they may not know their status. If you don’t practice safe sex, if you don’t make yourself aware, you are inviting trouble.
gay as life
Bob R – I agree with you, but would take it one step further. Drug companies should not be advertising any prescription drugs at all. Drugs should be prescribed based on efficacy, not popularity. The advertising simply adds to the drug cost, and highlights the “consumerist” aspect of our health care system. Sickening. Literally.
mark
Cheney/Bush gutted 1/3rd of Ryan White Funds, backed idiotic abstinence-only which failed in 85% of Senior High School girls, produced only ONE new HIV drug FUSION in 8 years, removed ALL gay references in HIV literature…don’t F*CKIN try and explain this HORRIBLE increase with excuses of better testing methods.
the greed motivated “faith-based” ministers and Repigs….REAP what you’ve SOWN.
WHERE are gay oversight and gay outreach at the CDC…you should have been G*D DAMN screaming for 8 years.
mark
Repigs selling their abstinence-ONLY sh*t LIED aboout how effective condoms can be to protect yourself and your partners.
I’ve lived with HIV/AIDS since 85′ and the virus was NEVER spread by me. I’ve had two monogamous relationships with partners for over 3 years each, who were negative when we met, and are negative today. My current lover of 5 years has been POZ as long as I have, we’ve each survived the death of a partner, and countless friends.
This story isn’t an abstract issue for either of us, the sadne4ss reading this report is staggering, because we know what your life is like burying EVERYONE you knew, and being sick daily from drug side effects.
seitan-on-a-stick
Is that 400% in A-O-L inches? Truthfully, some very informed comments have been made here (you go GGreen)
AIDS and HIV will always be around like unwanted pregnancies due to the predominant modes of transmission. While the latter has Roe V Wade, the Bushies and Big Pharma have never been invested in an AIDS cure or vaccine.
Bring on the Age of Cures!