Homosexuality has been something that has been easily looked at for many generations as the main transmission of HIV. During the 1980s in the Caribbeans, many people believed that HIV was widely transmitted through homosexual men. It was until the mid 80s that people started to realize that homosexuals were not the main mode of transmission of HIV, but the heterosexual people were. Even though it has been a big dispute for many decades, many people label HIV as the "gay disease." This disease has placed a big stereotype on many homosexuals because of this myth.
DID YOU KNOW?
Homosexual males, who make up less than 2% of the US population, account for 56% of the adult AIDS cases?
"AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men." Fathers For Life. 14 Oct. 1999. 26 Jan. 2011. <http://fathersforlife.org/dale/aids1.html>.
"The Stigmatization of Homosexuals and Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica, W.I.." The AIDS Pandemic. 22 Feb. 2008. 22 Jan. 2011. <http://the-aids-pandemic.blogspot.com/2008/02/stigmatization-of-homosexuals-and.html>.
I agree with you that HIV is generally seen as the "gay disease." It was very common for me to hear things like that in public or through the media. I do recall seeing a documentary though that stated that the first cases of HIV were found in homosexual men, so I can see how that stereotype was originally created. However, it would be very naive to assume and stereotype that HIV/AIDS is limited to the homosexual population. It is pretty sad how ignorant some people can be and as a result they say very hurtful things that are not even close to the truth.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very shocking statistic that 2% of the population can account for 56% of the adult AIDS cases. I can see how a statistic like that would help the stereotype about homosexuals persist.
-Spencer Kerce
I agree with you also Alicia. I too have heard HIV referred to as being a "gay" disease. But just like other stereotypes, there are exceptions. I believe it's unfair to judge a whole population of people based on something that only affects a portion of the population. Sadly, that's how people think these days.
ReplyDelete-Lashawnda Casper
Wow. I have never heard of HIV as the "gay disease". I personally have never seen it as the "gay disease". I've always seen it as "everyone's disease" because no one is safe from HIV. Everyone can get it. The whole homosexuality thing is being used as a scapegoat, in my opinion anyway. I feel that if everyone was well educated on the disease, they would view it a little differently instead of blaming a certain group of people because of their sexuality
ReplyDeleteHello Alicia,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Dominick.
I have never once thought of HIV/AIDS as a "gay disease", to follow with Victoria's comment. As a child, when I first learned of this disease it actually scared me because I knew I was capable of getting it (even if I didn't know how). I always viewed it as an "automatic killer" type of disease. That's the way the world is, sadly enough. There will always be people who will make fun of people, or use the term HIV/AIDS in a very light point-of-view (Marshall Mathers for example).
Your 'Did You Know' statistic makes me wonder if the 56% represents the total number of adults who have ever been diagnosed with AIDS or if it's a current number in comparison to the 2% of homosexual people. Also, is the 2% world-wide or nationally?
Best of luck!
Dominick Iannelli
Yes these myths have confused so many people in the world, past and present. I hate that people like to point the finger at homosexual people when the disease does no discriminate at all whatsoever. I also wondered why it took so long for them to realize what was going on with the disease. I'm glad we have more information now about HIV/AIDS.
ReplyDeleteI hope to see a much longer post, Alicia. This felt like a Did You Know post and not a general post that I am expecting to see each week.
ReplyDeleteThe government was thrilled that a disease was targeting marginalized groups like homosexual men, intravenous drug users and Haitians. So we loss a few million of 'these' people; who would miss them.
The fact that the US clings to its Puritan roots, doesn't make this easy at all because HIV revolves around sex and drugs. As a country we don't handle either topic well.