Doug PollardPrudish anti-AIDS programs fuel rather than fight spread
July 26th 2008 05:33
I have visibility on the brain today, because of a whole heap of news stories that demonstrate how being invisible, usually through fear, can be deadly for gay men. Here's just one.
In Africa, cultural taboos against homosexuality that were imported by white missionaries are now helping the spread of HIV. This report from the UN goes into some detail, but to summarise.
Infection rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) are many times higher than among men who don’t. Not because of promiscuity, higher susceptibility, but because of prejudice and ignorance that mean AIDS programs don't address them or reach them..
Most MSM are either bisexual, married, or closeted, because it’s dangerous to be otherwise in countries where homosexuality is an offence, punishable by sentences ranging in severity up to imprisonment and even death.
So no wonder MSM conceal their male sexual encounters from their female partners, doctors, clinic, out of fear. And even if they escape arrest, if their sexuality becomes known they may well be turned away from clinics, refused treatment, and left to die.
Worse, most MSM actually think they are safer having sex with another man than they are with a woman, because none of the anti-AIDS propaganda mentions homosexual sex. It’s taboo.
The ads and the leaflets and commercials warn against unprotected sex with a woman, but say nothing about sex with another man. They talk about AIDS being transmitted by bodily fluids, but the receptive partner in anal sex doesn’t produce fluids. So MSM think they’re safe. Incidentally, many also think unprotected anal sex with a woman is safe.
Net result: most MSM have unprotected anal sex, men with HIV go untreated, and spread the disease to their female partners unknowingly.
Why is anti-AIDS education so bad? Because governments don’t want to ‘promote’ this “un-African” practices. Because governments deny there are any gay men in their country. Because they’re embarrassed to talk about it. Because many of the anti-AIDS programs are delivered by church groups and homosexuality goes against their religion. Because governments don’t care if gay men die. Not unlike Ronald Reagan, when I think of it.
These fears are not confined to Africa. Studies show around four in ten gay men in the UK and the US don’t tell their doctor they’re gay, leading to compromised healthcare and greater risk.
Fear and prejudice are still a major obstacle to gay men’s health. The closet can be a death chamber. Invisibility can kill.
PS I notice the Slime Lady says she is done arguing about the causes of AIDS. I trust the rest of us will take the hint and stop responding to her outrageous provocations.
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Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
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Comment by Doug Pollard
Current Affairs
Rainbow Reporter
A lot of gay men are receptive partners in anal sex.
A lot of women (though a smaller proportion overall) esp in 3rd world countries, are receptive partners, because it's been used for centuries as a 'poor man's contraception'
Heterosexual men are seldom receptive partners in anal sex (except with artificial sex organs)
Lesbians even more seldom.
The other problem with MSM is the availability of lubricants that won't rot the condoms, as oil and butter do.
Comment by postmoderncritic
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