AIDS is still the gay disease

[fimbulwinter]

"If homosexuality did not exist, AIDS would not be able to persist in the western world."

Statistically, this statement is correct.

fim

[BZ_Zorro]

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Exposure categories of adults and adolescents who received a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, 2003


http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/PUBS/Facts/At-A-Glance.htm

The centre for disease control says:

Well into the third decade of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, rates of HIV infection remain high, especially among minority populations. Of newly diagnosed HIV infections in the United States during 2003, CDC estimated that approximately 63% were among men who were infected through sexual contact with other men, 50% were among blacks, 32% were among whites, and 16% were among Hispanics (1). Studies of HIV infection among young men who have sex with men (MSM) in the mid to late 1990s revealed high rates of HIV prevalence, incidence, and unrecognized infection, particularly among young black MSM

[excession]

Er this shows 80% of american women who contract the disease are getting it from (presumably) non-gay men.

HIV is a the moment a lifelong condition. Ignoring infection outside the US (on holiday etc) and immigration of infected persons from outside, and ignoring infections thru needlesticks etc (all of which would bring the required rate of onward infection down) anyone who has it needs to infect one other person during their lifetime for it to 'persist'.

Now gay men's practices may well have established the disease in the West, but certainly here in the UK the heterosexual % of folks with HIV has steadily been increasing since the early 90's..

And the vast majority of infections worldwide are hetero to hetero transmission.

Anyway to be honest HIV isn't that big of a deal in the Western world any more - it's not a death sentence these days, just a treatable illness. It's in places like Africa (where the US has withdrawn funding for condoms to promote 'abstinence programs' instead at the behest of the Christian right)that MILLIONS (not just a few thousand) people with HIV face death withing the nest few years..

[BZ_Zorro]

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Er this shows 80% of american women who contract the disease are getting it from (presumably) non-gay men.

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A few points.

1. Your presumption is very wrong. Bisexual men are recognised as the main cause of AIDS (historically and currently) in the heterosexual population. I read it a while ago, don't have a link but I'll search tomorrow(it's late) and post.
2. Female infection rates are far lower (9000 vs 23000)
3. There are no gays in Africa? (lol)
4. He stated he was talking about America.
5. Anal sex (hetero or [censored]) and needle sharing are the main vehicles for virus transmission.

[jokerthief]

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The gay community needs to take responsibility and start practicing safer sex.

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This is, unfortunatly, easier said than done. Condoms have around a 10% failure rate at blocking sperm. If you were to compare the size of sperm to the HIV virus, it would be like comparing a hula hoop to a marble. Add to that the greater friction in anal sex as compared to vaginal sex. I guess table selection would be a homosexual's best bet.

[Thunderpig]

It is always nice to see that it is impossible to call a spade a spade...these people love to poke everything they see, but refuse to take any responsibility...you aren't a so-called homophobe if you recognize the fact that if they weren't having unprotected sex with the frequency of rabbits, they might not be dying of this disease...

[AngryCola]

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My point is that if you listen to MTVCBSABCCNNPMSBC that you will get the impression that AIDS occurs at the same frequency in each group. It doesn't.

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Perhaps you should write them about it? It just seems like you are only trying to stir stuff up with this post. I agree with your main point (in this country), but you can't deny that you were only looking to pick a fight here. :shrug: