What would be the American response upon discovering that one-tenth to perhaps one-third of an entire population was infected with the AIDS virus? Outrage? Hand-wringing? Compassion? Calls for mobilization? Marching on the Capitol?
Well, that seems to depend on who the “population” is. If it’s in sub-Saharan Africa, then, yes, all of the above. If it’s black heterosexuals, ditto. But if it’s gay/bi men in America, don’t hold your breath.
Study after study has demonstrated “African” levels of HIV infection among urban gay men, especially among the young and among blacks. While last week’s CDC information about six specific cities cannot be applied to gay men across the nation, it indicates a severe problem that’s getting worse.
The response? Well, the silence has been deafening. The United States doesn’t promote disease prevention anyway, instead opting to spend enormous sums to treat the sick, rather than prevent illness. This is particularly true of HIV/AIDS, which occurs mostly among people marginalized by American society.
The result is great suffering for those infected and their loved ones, plus enormous cost for everyone else. Prevention funding sources – mainly the CDC – must underwrite research to find what works with young gay men, then support innovative programs to accomplish the prevention work itself.
To do anything less is tantamount to slow-motion genocide.
(To find out how you can get involved in HIV prevention efforts locally, please call 458-AIDS.)
This article appears in June 15 • 2001.