The number of new H.I.V. infections in men under 30 who have sex with men has increased sharply in New York City in the last five years, particularly among blacks and Hispanics, even as AIDS deaths and overall H.I.V. infection rates in the city have steadily declined.New figures from the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene show that the annual number of new infections among black and Hispanic men who have sex with men rose 34 percent between 2001 and 2006, and rose for all men under 30 who have sex with men by 32 percent.
Experts attribute the frightening rise to three factors: inhibition lowering drugs, "optimism" about HIV treatment and silence-inducing stigma. A deadly - and preventable - combination.
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Not to be whistling in the darkness, but if you look at the hard numbers, the rise in actual conversions is not that high.
Mental note…do not sleep with black and latino men if i ever visit NYC.
Matt–please confirm you were being sarcastic. If not, go fuck yourself.
BBoy,
I was. I don't sleep with anyone to be truthful. I once had an HIV expert tell me to treat all sexual partners like they had HIV. Well I thought about it and if I knew someone was positive I wouldn't sleep with them at all so I don't sleep with anyone.
BBoy,
Please confirm you are brainless. If not, go pleasure yourself (or someone who gives a shit).
Shew, feel sorry for you, dude. I have always had sex with everyone as though he were positive. I have a very active & healthy sex life. It's not that difficult to slip a condom on!
ditto hells kitchen guy- it's the only way to go.
Oh i'm all for safer sex hells kitchen and degan22. It's just that condoms break. It's not 100%. At first, I admit it was hard. Almost like quitting smoking but now it's not bad so don't feel sorry. I'm in no way bashing what others do. I am just doing what I feel is right for me and will keep me safe.
Condoms break, condoms break, condoms break.
Yeah, and airplanes crash. And cars run into trees. And dogs bite. And skiers break their legs. It's your decision, but once you have protection (a condom), you just do it. I know for me,I couldn't live without sex. It's that simple.
A couple of thoughts — we need to address gay men's health needs holistically, and not defer to HIV/AIDS, as if that is the only health issue that matters.
I believe that treating ourselves as whole human beings, with plenty of complexities above the navel, will bring about better health outcomes for all that concerns us, including but not limited to HIV infecton.
Two - why are we as gay men seemingly satisfied with one way to protect ourselves during sex? Why do we think "use a condom every time" is enough?
How would you feel if you went into Starbucks and you had one choice - coffee. Period. Just plain, old coffee. Would we have people screaming in the streets?
Well, we need more options to protect ourselves. How about rectal microbicides? See http://www.IRMWG.org for more info on this new prevention technology, which is currently in the research and development phase.
Okay, and three. We can't divorce societal and structural issues that put some of us at greater risk than others. It isn't always about simply using a condom - it is also about homophobia, stigma, poverty, homelessness, substance use/abuse, mental and emotional health, loneliness, hunger, lack of access to health care, lack of insurance, etc….
It will never be enough to simply address HIV/AIDS among gay men by focusing on the area between the navel and the knee.
Jim