From the editor: Good morning, reader! I know, I know, it’s probably pretty scary hearing from me so early, but don’t be scared, you’re not in trouble. I just have a question – as you can imagine, I’m constantly cruising gay news sites and blogs. And, among other things, I consistently come across stories about HIV/AIDS. We all obviously – and sadly – know that HIV/AIDS affects everyone, not just the homos. This isn’t an original question, or even innovative, but is AIDS a gay disease? Should it be packaged with other gay news, like politics and the such?
Burning Questions…
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Raven
As an HIV positive person any news related to HIV awareness or issues related to HIV and health would be welcome. Although HIV is not solely a disease affecting the GLBTQQ community we do seem to have the lions share of infected people outside of Africa. To my dismay I have been hearing more and more from people that the youngest of our community are not taking HIV seriously and are becoming infected.
dellisonly
While we as a community are most aware and cautious twords the disease we are not the most effected demographic in this country. Black woman and prison inmates are the one’s who need HIV/AIDS education the most. Apathy will make this HIV/AIDS a continuing problem.
thatguyfromboston
While I don’t think that HIV/AIDS is a gay disease, I do feel that due to its pervasive effect on our community that it is inclusion in gay news sites such as queerty is appropriate.
-M-
When last were you in Africa? Sub-Saharan Africa even?
Visit Africa and then try to make it out as a gay disease.
In South Africa alone almost 10% of the population is estimated to be living with HIV / AIDS.
“The South African National HIV Survey estimated that 10.8% of all South Africans over 2 years old were living with HIV in 2005. There is an average of almost 1,000 deaths of AIDS a day in South Africa.”
I can assure you we’re not losing 1 000 South African homos a day to the disease.
More information: Aids in SA
ColeWake
As someone who works in the ‘gay media’ I have had this discussion many times. For many years the media and HIV/AIDS activists worked to make sure people understood that HIV/AIDS wasn’t just a ‘gay plague’. They also worked to reduce the stigma and ‘death knell’ of a HIV/AIDS diagnosis. Both of these goals were very important to the improvement in AIDS awareness and education.
However, as a younger gay who didn’t watch dozens of my friends die of HIV/AIDS I think the those two movements actually harmed my generation. We grew up as AIDS medicines helped people not look sick and live even longer and it became ‘just another’ STD everyone gets. AIDS was this mysterious monster that didn’t seem to live up to its reputation. Plus, its not like we were really at that much more of risk (so we thought). As a teenager I had unprotected sex with multiple partners. There was concern in my mind but not enough to convince me to take action.
All this to say, I think it is important for the GLBT media to cover AIDS and to do it in an accurate and responsible manner. The true dangers and life limitations need to be reinforced who didn’t grow-up during the rough times. If we want to slow the spread of the disease we have to treat it as one. I have the deepest concern and love for those already afflicted with HIV/AIDS and do not want to see them suffer any more pain than they have to, but the gloves need to come off in the fight against HIV/AIDS and people need to be educated about the true consequences of the disease.
Jeremy
While HIV/AIDS isn’t an exclusively gay disease, it is a big problem of our community, and it seems that more and more, we’re primarily the group that follows it. Think about it: When was the last time stories involving HIV/AIDS were leading stories on major news outlets? Gay news blogs post at least one every day. While we aren’t the only group of people affected by HIV/AIDS, we are probably one of the most knowledgable on the subject.
Darth Paul
It’s tons more relevant than Madonna’s recent bullsh!t, Project Runway, and the like. While it’s not the exclusive glue that keeps us together, it’s certainly important.
Ryan
Yes, HIV/AIDS should be packed with other gay news.
HIV/AIDS has the potential to affect everyone, not just homos. Nevertheless, in most societies there are groups that have unevenly distributed with HIV/AIDS, the big three are injecting drug users, sex workers and men that have sex with men. The UK government estimates that 9% of all gay men in London are HIV positive. A scary stat. For this reason, HIV/AIDS is a gay issue.
Yes – in Africa it is different however one can easily speak about 2 global HIV/AIDS epidemics the one in Africa and the one in the rest of the world. Africa has specific problems that are spreading the virus not common in the rest of the world. The rest of the world should focus on the big three at risk groups I already stated.
Also keeping HIV/AIDS in the headlines keeps it in mind – and educates younger individuals that it is still at large and can debunk myths that have in recent years been circulated as therefore hopefully they will learn about HIV/AIDS and condom use from the media because unfortunately they are not going to learn about it in school.
damascene
AIDS and HIV new s stories are gay stories. They are bigger than just our community but certainly a part of it.
Queer "T"
I think the more information about it to a gay audience the better. Consider it your civic duty.
hells kitchen guy
No, as gay men we have no interest in HIV/AIDS. (cue sarcasm)
CHURCHILL-Y
By the way some people think and view us you’d think were
just an HIV/AIDS ticking time bomb ready to explode on anyone
who beds us. So if anything good can come out of this false perception
people have about us until we rid ourselves of such stigma and most importantly
the disease then I say it should be “packaged with other gay news” most def it should be
given more priority than dumb hetero stars drama shit. It remains to see though if people
will have the same amount of interest.
Puddy Katz
It effects us, it should be included with the other news. That doesn’t mean it is being portrayed as a “gay disease” but rather as something of key interest to gay people. Leaving it out, or putting it somewhere else, is probably a disservice.
Sean
I have AIDS. While AIDS/HIV is not a gay disease it is a part of our history. It galvanized the gay community. If you don’t cover it, trust me, nobody will. As a person with AIDS I feel as if I live in a world where I DON’T BELONG.
Smokey Martini
I agree that it should be covered.
After all, us gays were one of the first people to try to battle the disease through our own organizations and fundraising initiatives when it first became a crisis in the 80s. Only after Magic Johnson came out as people living with AIDS in the early 90s did straight politicians and policy-makers start taking it seriously.
Keep us updated on the HIV/AIDS research we initiated – and, of course, on the safer sex practices we promoted both in and outside the gay community. The world should thank us (for something)!
Qjersey
Ryan… first off if you can come here you can do a google search and find accurate information about HIV/AIDS globally and locally. IDU’s, and sex workers are NOT the biggest groups with HIV/AIDS. Globally it is Heterosexual Woman in “3rd world” nations, Heterosexual men, IDU’s and then MSM.
However in Western nations alone, HIV is a “gay disease” as MSM have consistently represented the largest proportion of PLWHA (40- 50% depending on the year).
And what makes it “our” disease as in the old ACTUP days is the fact that the Western Goverments, the good old USA being the biggest offender, will cough up $$$ for HIV prevention and treatment among other populations that are more “socially acceptable” than us queers.
Only about 28% of US HIV prevention dollars are targeted toward MSM.
As Larry Kramer would say, they want us to kill ourselves and we are gleefully helping them while dancing our asses off.
marco channing
“However, as a younger gay who didn’t watch dozens of my friends die of HIV/AIDS I think the those two movements actually harmed my generation. We grew up as AIDS medicines helped people not look sick and live even longer and it became ‘just another’ STD everyone gets. AIDS was this mysterious monster that didn’t seem to live up to its reputation. Plus, its not like we were really at that much more of risk (so we thought). As a teenager I had unprotected sex with multiple partners. There was concern in my mind but not enough to convince me to take action.”
This is exactly why we need to cover it.
HIV/AIDS is not just another STD. It is a chronic and STILL FATAL illness. In 2006, I lost a friend who had been infected since 1989. He developed resistance faster than new meds could be developed. Another friend was infected two years ago with a very strong strain that damaged his heart. So, now in addition to meds that cause him skin rashes and digestive problems, he has to take heart medication.
Having HIV/AIDS is not a walk in the park. And as long as “younger gays” believe that it is, we need to remain aggressive about educating them about the realities of living and dying with the disease.
Jack Jett
Wow, Belonsky…that is an awesome question. So awesome that even I and my big mouth wouldn’t know how to answer it.
GranDiva
Oh, come on, Jack, you can do anything.
Timothy
Currently in the US between 10% and 15% of adult gay males are living with HIV/AIDS. About half of all new infections this year will be men who have sex with men (MSM) and about 2/6 of all existing cases are MSM.
Contraction of HIV happens most easily through anal sex, a practice that is still more common among gay folks than straight. Considering the ratios of infection, some brainless blond female can get drunk and stupid and have unsafe sex and still be at a relatively low risk of infection. But a brainless blond gay guy who does just the same is at much higher risk.
While it isn’t truly accurate to call HIV/AIDS a “gay disease”, issues relating to HIV infection, treatment, vaccines, politics, etc. have a greater impact on our community members, per capita, than on any other community in the US.
So absolutely, give us the news.
Paul Raposo
Yes, it is a gay disease and it should be packaged as such. We spent so much of our time and money convincing the world that it isn’t JUST a gay disease, that now they believe us and don’t give a goddamn about GAY HIV/AIDS anymore. We’re constantly told that gay HIV is preventable; but that African HIV is a tragedy. Anally transmitted HIV is an issue of not taking personal responsibility; but IV transmitted HIV is a pity.
Kevin
Although it is not a “gay disease,” it remains a big issue for the community. Queerty covers lots of things of interest to the community (like ongoing political coverage even when there isn’t an obvious gay angle to the story). So yes, I would vote to continue to include.
Dawster
i was looking for it and gave up… maybe someone else can find it. a few months back the CDC declared that HIV/AIDS was no longer considered “epidemic” for heterosexuals in this country (America), as male to male transmission dominates the numbers in all categories.
i remember when i first head that, i thought “great, the CDC just made HIV/AIDS a gay disease” – and maybe statistically it is in this country. but in Africa it is not.
so Queerty can either (1) NOT make it a gay disease and report on its effect globally, or (2) make it a strictly gay disease and report on its destruction more locally (or nationally).
either way, the decision is an editorial one, not necessarily that of public opinion.
AZgaybe
no more gay than a cold…but for white bread eating americans(educated or not) it is a gay disease a retribution from a loving god. Although thats the rules for north america its different in africa…god bless annointed america manifest destiny and jesus saves!