Many black gay and bisexual men learn early not to talk about their sexuality, not to seek care, get tested for HIV or tell each other if they test positive for the virus. Some are shamed into silence and so stay in marriages, putting their wives, children and male sex partners at risk. [...] many believe lingering negative attitudes toward gay and bisexual men and their own guilt -- much of it stemming from religious beliefs -- are fueling the rise in HIV infection among young African-American gay men.
And another take on the whole thing:
African-American AIDS educators cited many reasons for the statistics for young black gays. In part, young black gay and bisexual men have unsafe sex for the same reasons young people of all races do: They are young and believe they're invincible. They incorrectly think AIDS medicines that extend people's lives are really a cure. And they are too young to have seen friends die of AIDS.
Morton said he has unsafe sex only with certain men. "I look for security and honesty, and if I'm comfortable with someone," he said as he stood outside Re-Bar in downtown Seattle late one night with several friends. "The whole issue of AIDS and all that can be so intense, and condoms can spoil the mood."
Yes, well ... I dare say that the side effects of some of the medications might spoil the mood even more. I mean, there's nothing like getting nice and heavy and passionate and having it interrupted by the odd case of explosive diarrhea. Or the fact that the medications don't work for everyone or that some people simply can't take them.
Why are people such idiots?
Copyright © 2001, Iain Jackson, after-words.org
[Archives: 2001 and after]
Archives before February 5, 2001
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12/19/2001: vive la france
12/19/2001: princess, redux
12/19/2001: yemen and rumsfeld
12/18/2001: you're NOT in the army now
12/18/2001: interesting donation
12/18/2001: shame on winn dixie, indeed
12/18/2001: saudi princess
12/17/2001: new resolve
12/17/2001: a victim of the attack ... yeah, right
12/17/2001: polluters ho!