I’ve noticed that those who are anti gay, cannot discuss the full spectrum of history and pandemics in it’s proper context.
They seem flummoxed when I mention that syphilis was the AIDS of it’s own time and was with us for CENTURIES before a cure was developed in the last century.

Rather than posit the discussion in terms of FIGHTING THE DISEASE, through funding of research, education, scholarships for the most talented bio medical professionals and so on: they’d rather fight the PEOPLE who are at risk and condemn them to more of the socio/political isolation that increased the pandemic.

Even those people of faith, if I asked them to pray and support that HIV/AIDS goes the way of syphilis and there is a vaccine or cure found, and that human suffering can be relieved only through committed dedication to medical compassion, not discrimination…I might as well have whistled in the wind.

Am I being naive that there SHOULD be a meeting of the minds on this, regardless of being religious or not?

I mean, seriously…what IS the point in dedicating SO much time in making gay people be among the disappeared, instead of an infection that affects EVERYONE?

Is there some Biblical or religious definition for this kind of folly?

“However, a study in 200815 dated the origin of HIV to between 1884 and 1924, much earlier than previous estimates. The researchers compared the viral sequence from 1959 (the oldest known HIV-1 specimen) to the newly discovered sequence from 1960. They found a significant genetic difference between them, demonstrating diversification of HIV-1 occurred long before the AIDS pandemic was recognised.”

http://www.avert.org/origin-aids-hiv.htm

Foxx, it is entirely inappropriate to make April Fools day jokes about HIV/AIDS, and that is the best your posts can be.

There are several publications of interest to black women, and they have done much to dispel or correct previous misinformation about how the disease tracked into the black community.

Essentially, the truth is, black hetero men who don’t or refuse to use condoms have been the culprits all along. Black men especially, in some communities, have multiple partners within short periods of time. Especially in lower income neighborhoods where there might be more resistance to, or less access also to information and preventive measures.

It’s a cultural factor, a kind of macho attitude that makes some black men refuse to use condoms and live in a state of denial. Denial of personal responsibility to prevention of disease or pregnancy. Invariably they will blame the woman for whatever outcome occurs.
It’s been most unfortunate that black gay males and black hetero females are the most isolated from social protection, inclusion and economic empowerment.

However, if there IS a kind of genetic factor that makes HIV more stubborn and resistant to medical intervention, it’s worth researching.
I have systemic lupus. A genetic auto immune disorder that disproportionately affects WOMEN, and at another level, disproportionately affects black women.

It’s fair to speculate and respond to such a possibility.
But as long as those most vulnerable are also the most dislocated from medical and educational research and access, then a comprehensive result will be elusive.

The facts surrounding the unconscionable Tuskogee experiments, on the other hand, are widely verifiable through multiple reputable sources, not the least of which the declassified medical records of the men and women from whom treatment was withheld.

Hosting this nonsense is comparable to lending credence that the world if flat or the moon really is made of cream cheese. Or that Paul Cameron is a researcher. We won’t do that.

http://www.playnice.me

http://www.health4men.co.za

i hate to bring this up, but isn’t there a disproportionate number of black males who are or have been incarcerated? i’m not sure how much safe sex is preached, facilitated or practiced in jail, but i’m wondering… aren’t infection rates higher among men who have sex with men in jail? …considering prison rape, including gang rape? does that have an effect on overall infection rates among black men who have sex with men? if it does, is anybody doing anything about it, at all?

I think the safer sex message to ALL gay men has to be this:

Seriously consider abstaining ~totally~ from anal sex, unless you are with a monogamous partner you can trust.
99.9 % of gay men get HIV from anal sex.

If you must have anal sex, use a condom every time. Or try a sex toy.

that sounds like a recipe for bitterness… and apathy.

if it were a man-made virus, or if it originated in Africa (i’m not convinced on any origin theories)… does that mean we can’t beat the virus?

forget stuff that induces apathy.

think of solutions… research… education… spread awareness… personal and collective agency… empowerment… anything that can make a difference or help people in anyway. it’s already being done, but more needs to be done… it’s not over yet.

i’m not suggesting that you have never done anything helpful. all i’m saying is… apathy is one of the virus’ allies… and theories that induce apathy, whether factual or not, ought to be shelved in favor of more solution-oriented discussions. that’s all.

1. Gather up a whole bunch of sketchy bits of information (the more the better)
2. Make wild conclusions based on said information
3. Make further wild conclusions based on the conclusions made in #2

I think I prefer Timothy’s approach.

I have provided the “TRUTH” and good information with Links, if you choose not to believe me then it’s your “loss.” None are so “blind,” as those who will “not” see!!! You probabaly think the Tuskegee Experiment was a “hoax” too!!!