thanks for the warning Tommy I have my sneeze guard on
On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 3:32 PM, Tommy News <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Today is National Gay Men's HIV Awareness Day > > *Posted by Lorraine Teel* > > *Last update:* September 27, 2010 - 12:50 PM > > 0<http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksUUUU#post_comments> > Comments<http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksUUUU#post_comments> > > <http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksUUUU#post_comments> > Add > comment<http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksUUUU#post_comments> > > Print<http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=103865313> > > <http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUKcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI#> > > Email<http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUKcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI#> > Share > <http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.startribune.com%2Fyourvoices%2F103865313.html&src=sp> > Add to del.icio.us <http://del.icio.us/post> > Close<http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUKcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI#> > Share<http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUKcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI#> > > “At the beginning of the HIV epidemic -- with many deaths in the gay > community -- fear was the educator. Today, thankfully death is not the > teacher." So says Dr. Hanan Rosenstein, a local infectious disease doctor > who has been treating local patients living with HIV since the early days of > the HIV epidemic. I couldn’t agree more. > Yes, both fear and death were indeed effective educators. Studies have > shown that the behavioral changes undertaken by gay men to protect > themselves during the 1980’s in response to the newly-discovered disease of > HIV were an unparalleled public health response – yet one with little to no > support from elected officials. As we know, it took years for there even to > be a response to AIDS at a federal level – especially when we take the time > to look back at the immediate governmental responses to toxic shock syndrome > and Legionnaire’s Disease. > > Today is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The Centers for Disease > Control (CDC) released a report late last week that looks at the occurrence > of HIV within the adult gay men’s community across 21 cities in the US. The > rates are astounding. Of the men participating in the study, one in five was > infected, with black gay and bisexual men particularly impacted. More > disturbing is the fact that nearly half (44%) did not even know they were > infected. > > In the early days, death from AIDS surrounded us. And so did fear and > stigma. But in the late 90’s the world changed. Here in America, new > medications began to bring people back to life. And those who were newly > infected could take these medications and seem to live well without having > to face the terrible diseases that those earlier in the epidemic suffered > from. But sadly, stigma remained. > > That sudden coming back to life got coupled with the message “wow, this is > easy; there’s a pill for that.” And that has sent the wrong message that HIV > is well-controlled now. I won’t even get into what it costs for someone > living with HIV today to cover co-pays, deductibles, insurance premiums and > the like *over a lifetime of care*. Or the long-term affect of taking > these medications *over a lifetime*– shifting body fat, bone loss, cardiac > and liver problems – it’s a long list. Summed up is the fact that *for all > with HIV, infection is a life altering event and for some it will be > life-ending. * > > As I said, the meds are here, but we have failed to get rid of the stigma > and fear. When it comes to HIV within the gay men’s community; well, it’s > complicated. There remains a lack of *practical and real *knowledge due to > a failure to educate young gay men. Why? Stigma. Seems like we just want to > fight or rail against homosexuality rather than accept that some young men > really are gay or bisexual. There’s a lack of knowledge about one’s status > as we have failed to make HIV testing a part of our annual > checkups. Why? Stigma. Many physicians hesitate bringing up HIV testing for > fear that their patient might be offended that the doctor thinks they’re > gay. > > So our biggest barrier to reducing HIV infections amongst gay and bisexual > men, most especially for those who are young, remains stigma. And let's be > clear -- stigma about being gay is no small thing. One only has to read the > local papers to hear about the bullying of gay students that continues in > our schools and community that sadly lead to suicides. The vitriol that > nuances being gay as “love the sinner, hate the sin” coming from many in our > community to whom young people turn for guidance. The endless failures to > provide young people with basic facts about HIV – in terms *they > understand. All adds up to stigma and fear -- stigma and fear despite > nearly 30 years of fighting AIDS. * > > Let’s get real here. HIV isn’t going away. Being gay isn’t going away. The > two do not have to be linked, but until we can reduce stigma and fear so > that we can lower the rate of new infections and thus lower the prevalence > in our community, we will continue to have a long road ahead of us. > > And Dr. Rosenstein is right – fear is no longer the educator and death is > no longer the teacher. I’m relieved about that – but I am still fighting to > get the message out that HIV is 100 percent preventable. But let’s first get > rid of the stigma so we can calmly and rationally talk about risk. > > More: > > http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103865313.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUKcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI > > -- > Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. > Have a great day, > Tommy > > __._,_.___ > Reply to > sender<[email protected]?subject=today+is+national+gay+men's+HIV+Awareness+Day>| > Reply > to > group<[email protected]?subject=today+is+national+gay+men's+HIV+Awareness+Day>| > Reply > via web > post<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PresidentBarakObama/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJyaTNuMjdiBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMTU2MzUxBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDM3NgRtc2dJZAMyNzk4MQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNycGx5BHN0aW1lAzEyODU2MTU5MzE-?act=reply&messageNum=27981>| > Start > a New > Topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PresidentBarakObama/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZWtvc3E3BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMTU2MzUxBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDM3NgRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyODU2MTU5MzE-> > Messages in this > topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PresidentBarakObama/message/27981;_ylc=X3oDMTM3OHRsMWZiBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMTU2MzUxBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDM3NgRtc2dJZAMyNzk4MQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyODU2MTU5MzEEdHBjSWQDMjc5ODE->( > 1) > Recent Activity: > > - New > Members<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PresidentBarakObama/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJnbGlucDZnBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMTU2MzUxBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDM3NgRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2bWJycwRzdGltZQMxMjg1NjE1OTMx?o=6> > 1 > > Visit Your > Group<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PresidentBarakObama;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcXRodW5qBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMTU2MzUxBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDM3NgRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzEyODU2MTU5MzE-> > MARKETPLACE > > Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get > the Yahoo! 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