Gay, bisexual, and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contact a,b are disproportionately affected by HIV. Social and structural issues—such as HIV stigma, homophobia, discrimination, poverty, and limited access to high-quality health care—influence health outcomes and continue to drive inequities.
Full Answer
Does HIV/AIDS still attack homosexual men?
In the seminal 1998 American Psychologist article, Walter Batchelor warned that “AIDS still attacks homosexual and bisexual men in great numbers” (p. 854). It is truly alarming that 30 years later, HIV/AIDS continues to be predominantly a gay and bisexual disease in this country (Halkitis, 2010b).
What is the impact of HIV on the LGBTQ community?
HIV disproportionately impacts segments of the LGBTQ community. While better data is needed to understand the full impact of HIV on the transgender community, one international analysis found that transgender women in certain communities have 49 times the odds of living with HIV than the general population.
Does the AIDS epidemic increase HIV vulnerability for gay and bisexual men?
In this article, consideration is given to the manner through which discrimination and homophobia, which may have been heightened because of the AIDS epidemic (Halkitis, 1999), perpetuate HIV vulnerabilities for gay and bisexual men.
Is the homosexual special rights movement perpetuating AIDS?
In a sense, the homosexual special rights movement is actually perpetuating this awful disease with its actions and attitudes. The AIDS plague will always be linked to homosexual behavior in the public mind — even if that collective “mind” is too intimidated to speak out.
How many people in the US have HIV in 2011?
Of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S. in 2011, only 30% of them had consistently taken their medication and were able to lower the amount of HIV in their bodies to undetectable levels. While undetectable, a person living with HIV remains in good health, and it is virtually impossible transmit the virus to a partner.
What did Obama do to prevent people from getting health insurance?
President Obama also signed the Affordable Care Act into law, which, among other things, prohibited insurance companies from denying people health insurance on the basis of a pre-existing condition like HIV and expanded Medicaid coverage to include many low-income people living with HIV.
Does HIV affect LGBTQ people?
While HIV affects Americans from all walks of life, the epidemic continues to disproportionately impact certain members of the LGBTQ community.
Is HIV high in transgender men?
Although HIV prevalence among transgender men is relatively low (0-3%) according to the CDC, some data suggest transgender men may still yet be at elevated risk for HIV acquisition.
Can HIV be transmitted to a partner?
While undetectable, a person living with HIV remains in good health, and it is virtually impossible transmit the virus to a partner. Prevention options (e.g., condoms, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) exist for those in relationships where one partner is not yet undetectable.
Is it legal to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation?
In most states, it is perfectly legal to discriminate against someone on the basis of their sexual orientation or their gender identity in one or more aspects of their life, including employment, housing, and public accommodations. Explicit non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity do not exist at the federal level either.
Is HIV testing safe?
Major advancements in HIV prevention, treatment, and care have put an AIDS-free generation squarely within reach. HIV tests are faster and more reliable than ever before. HIV medications are safer and more effective, and there are now several ways to prevent the spread of HIV, including condoms and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is an HIV prevention strategy that currently involves taking a once daily-pill called Truvada ®. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is safe and highly effective at preventing people from becoming HIV-positive.
What are the negative attitudes about homosexuality?
Negative attitudes about homosexuality may discourage gay and bisexual men from getting tested for HIV and finding health care to prevent and treat HIV.
What is a PrEP for HIV?
PrEP is when people who don’t have HIV but who are at risk of getting HIV take HIV medicine every day to reduce their chances of HIV infection.
What is the purpose of pre-exposure prophylaxis?
PrEP is when people who don’t have HIV but who are at risk of getting HIV take HIV medicine every day to reduce their chances of HIV infection. PrEP can be combined with other prevention methods, such as condoms, to reduce the risk of HIV even further.
Does ART cure HIV?
ART can’t cure HIV infection, but it can reduce the amount of HIV in the body (called the viral load ). A main goal of ART is to reduce a person’s viral load to an undetectable level. An undetectable viral load means that the level of HIV in the blood is too low to be detected by a viral load test.
Can HIV be transmitted through sex?
People with HIV whose viral load stays undetectable have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex. Maintaining an undetectable viral load is also the best way to stay healthy. Other steps you can take include using condoms during sex and talking to your partner about taking PrEP.
How does ART help with HIV?
ART reduces the amount of HIV virus ( viral load. external icon. ) in blood and body fluids. ART can keep people with HIV healthy for many years, and greatly reduce the chance of giving HIV to sex partners if taken regularly and correctly.
What does HIV stand for?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life.
Can HIV be controlled?
After initial infection, people may not have any symptoms for years. HIV can be controlled with the right medical treatment and care. However, if it’s left untreated, it may develop into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Top of Page.
Can HIV be spread through sex?
Sharing needles, syringes, rinse water, or other equipment (works) used to make injectable drugs with someone who has HIV. Less commonly, HIV may be spread by: Oral sex.
What are the experiences of oppression and homophobia?
Experiences with oppression and homophobia, which tend to pervade family, school and community settings, are especially relevant for gay and bisexual young men, who are in the process of establishing their personal identities.
Is poverty a factor in HIV?
Mays, Cochran, and Zamudio (2004) revealed similar findings in a study of gay, bisexual and other MSM. Poverty has been identified by the United Nations Population Fund (2003) as a critical factor in the spread and treatment of HIV.
Is the HIV epidemic directed solely by person-level behaviors?
Taken together, the extant literature suggests that the perpetuation of the HIV epidemic in gay and bisexual men is not directed solely by person-level behaviors but is influenced by a range of contextual factors, rooted in cultural, historical, and political structures in this country.
Who was the black gay man who was HIV positive?
This too resulted from the efforts of Black gay men, particularly Mario Cooper. Cooper, who grew up in Mobile, Alabama and was HIV positive, used his White House connections to press the Clinton administration on AIDS issues, particularly in communities of color.
How much did the AIDS Initiative cost in 1998?
That meeting led to a call by the Congressional Black Caucus for new, targeted AIDS funding, and in 1998 Congress authorized the Minority AIDS Initiative, with $165 million aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS in communities of color. Far from powerless or passive, Black gay men have been leaders in the fight against AIDS.
When was the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on AIDS?
In 1986 the Southern Christian Leadership Conference organized a symposium on “AIDS in the Black Community,” but only invited a Black gay speaker after activist Gil Gerald pointed out their absence from the program.
Why are gay men at high risk?
Their risk is high because a large percentage of their potential partners are infected with the virus. 8 . Where more people in the community have HIV, there is a higher risk that someone will be exposed.
What is the impact of lack of access to care on HIV?
A lack of reliable access to care can make a big difference in the spread of HIV. It can lead to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection. People are often most infectious during acute (new) infection. 7 That's particularly true when they don't know they're infected.
Is black MSM more likely to have HIV than white MSM?
For example, black MSM in the United States are six times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than white MSM. 9 That's true even though, on average, they are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. For example, they are less likely to use drugs during sex.
Why can't we calculate the number of people who died from AIDS?
For millions, the debate is more than theoretical: nobody will ever be able to calculate the number of people who have died because their diseases lacked researchers to work on them due to the massive diversion of funds to AIDS.
Do LGBT people have a right to privacy?
The Harm Done by LGBT Activists. All people have a God-given right to privacy. This right covers legitimate relationships, such as those between husbands and wives, doctors and patients, attorneys and clients, and c lergy and penitents .
Is HIV a gay disease?
HIV is not a gay disease. Nope. [1] This assertion is an essential component of the carefully-engineered campaign intended to convince us that homosexuality is just as healthy as heterosexuality. Anyone who disagrees or attempts to present scientific evidence to the contrary is not debated, they are simply shouted down.
Is AIDS a chronic disease?
Thanks to the strenuous efforts of the medical profession, AIDS has been transformed from an automatic death sentence into a chronic debilitating disease. The death toll has decreased, but the number of people living with AIDS is steadily increasing, putting a huge strain on the health care system.
Is the AIDS plague linked to homosexuality?
In a sense, the homosexual special rights movement is actually perpetuating this awful disease with its actions and attitudes. The AIDS plague will always be linked to homosexual behavior in the public mind — even if that collective “mind” is too intimidated to speak out.
What are the health issues that LGBTQ people face?
LGBTQ people are disproportionately at risk for a variety of mental health issues, including major depression, bipolar disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. These issues can lead to detrimental outcomes, like drug use, suicide—and, of course, HIV.
How many transgender people have HIV?
Around 3.2% of transgender men are living with HIV, while 9.2% of transgender people overall live with HIV. At testing events around the country in 2017, transgender people had a new HIV diagnosis rate of three times the national average.
What are the disproportionately affected by HIV?
Gay and bisexual men of color, specifically Black and Latinx gay and bisexual men, are disproportionately affected by HIV. These numbers reflect the reality of having an intersectional identity in America.
How many people in the US have HIV?
Out of the 1.1 million people living with HIV in the U.S., roughly 700,000 of them attained the virus through male-male sexual intercourse. Roughly three out of every four people in the U.S. who became HIV positive in 2017 were men who have had sex with men.
Is HIV a heterosexual or bisexual?
Although men, women, and people of all genders can identify as bisexual, data about sexual HIV transmission is often recorded as either “hetero sexual” or ” male to male,” even if one or both people involved in the transmission are bisexual.
When was the first story about AIDS written?
The first story written about AIDS in any newspaper appeared in the New York Native, a gay biweekly publication, which in May 1981 tried to push back against rumors of a “gay cancer” spreading in the U.S.
Do LGBTQ people have intimate partner violence?
LGBTQ people experience intimate partner violence, just as people in straight relationships do. And, as in any relationship, violence is tied to a heightened risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), specifically because partners who are living in a violent relationship are often unable to negotiate terms of sexual encounters, including if and how protection is used.
Prevention
Health
- HIV disproportionately impacts segments of the LGBTQ community. Discrimination against LGBTQ people makes us particuarly vulnerable to HIV. Anti-LGBTQ bias further enables the spread of HIV by discouraging many in our community from getting tested or treated for HIV for fear of harassment. A 2014 Kaiser Family Foundation survey of gay and bisexual ...
Epidemiology
- According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 1.2 million people living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States, and approximately 40,000 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2015 alone. While the annual number of new diagnoses fell by 19% between 2005 and 2014, progress has been uneven. For example, gay and bisexual men made u…
Risks
- Dealing with the potential consequences of bias and discrimination job loss, homelessness, lack of healthcare insurance often results in LGBTQ people engaging in behaviors that facilitate the spread of HIV. For example, in the face of persistent employment discrimination, many transgender women are left with few other options but to engage in survival sex work in order t…
Funding
- HIV prevention, treatment, and research programs are underfunded and often hampered by ideological restrictions. Following decades of inadequate funding, our nations public health infrastructure lacks the resources it needs to respond aggressively to the HIV and AIDS epidemic. This arrangement has been devastating for members of the LGBTQ community, since the little f…
Quotes
- Despite the challenges, we are closer than weve ever been to ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the United States.
Mission
- HRC is committed to working with our friends, partners, members, and supporters to end the HIV and AIDS epidemic. With your support, we continue to:
Goals
- This resource is not a substitute for sound medical advice and the examples throughout it dont cover every situation! We encourage you to seek out additional resources from other community advocates and, most importantly, talk to a knowledgeable healthcare provider before making any medical decisions. Click here to learn more about our work to end the HIV & AIDS epidemic. Las…
HIV in The Gay and Bisexual Population
Discrimination and Homophobia as Causes of HIV
- Despite increased visibility, acceptance and recent sociopolitical advances, gay and bisexual men continue to live in a society that privileges heterosexuality while denigrating nonheterosexual relationships, behaviors and identities (Herek, Gillis, & Cogan, 2009). As a result, our population continues to face stigma rarely encountered by our heterosexual counterparts. Oppressive socia…
The Confluence of Homophobia, Racism, and Economic Inequalities
- For gay and bisexual men of color, the effects of sexual orientation discrimination on HIV risk may be confounded and exacerbated by other powerful structural factors, including racism, lack of access to economic means, and poverty (Williams, Wyatt, Resell, Peterson, & Asuan-O’Brien, 2004). HIV in the United States has disproportionately affected r...
Conclusions
- Taken together, the extant literature suggests that the perpetuation of the HIV epidemic in gay and bisexual men is not directed solely by person-level behaviors but is influenced by a range of contextual factors, rooted in cultural, historical, and political structures in this country. These findings suggest that HIV prevention efforts must be embedded within a larger framework of ga…
About The Author
- Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, is an associate dean for research and doctoral studies, a professor of applied psychology, public health and medicine, and the director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University (NYU). He is also an affiliate of the Center for AIDS Researc…
References
- Abdool, K.Q., Abdool, K.S.S., Frolich, J.A., Grobler, A.C., Baxter, C., Mansor, L.E., Taylor, D. (2010). Effectiveness and safety of tenofvir gel, an antiretroviral microbicide, for the prevention of HIV infection in women. Science, 329,1168-1174. Adimora, A.A., & Auerbach, J.D. (2010). Structural interventions for HIV prevention in the United States. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Sy…
2012 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report
- Monitoring HIV Care in the United States: Indicators and Data Systems Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press Released: March 15, 2012 Morgan A. Ford and Carol Mason Spicer, Editors; Committee on Review Data Systems for Monitoring HIV Care; Institute of Medicine In July 2010, the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) released its National HIV/AIDS Str…