Current Events > New research says 50%! of gay black men have HIV but no one talks about it.

(+) Yeah! (+)

The risk of contracting HIV is one in two if you are a black man in the US who has sex with men. This statistic is all the more startling because so few people are aware of it. I was feeling very sick says Daryon McCurdy, so I went to the doctor and they said, Okay, you have gonorrhea and acute HIV. I was so shocked.

The 25-year-old was diagnosed with HIV in August 2017, three years after moving to Atlanta, the black gay capital of the US. The city provides a coming-of-age setting for men from across the US. For those from the south, it can be lifesaving.

The deep south is a notoriously tough place to grow up black and gay, as McCurdy knows too well. In his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, he was outed by rumours that started at school and ended with his parents. My stepdad said If I hear one more thing about you being gay in middle school, Ill ship you back to your dad.

For men who grow up gay in the south, this kind of shame and stigma makes them less likely to seek information about, and protection for, their sex lives. Closeted sex is inherently dangerous, because it happens in places where it is not safe to talk openly to people who may be able to help. What follows can be a lack of knowledge about safe sex or a huge underestimation of the risk of infection.

At 21, McCurdy followed the path of many like him and moved to Atlanta to start afresh. There is no doubt that the city provides refuge and a chosen family for those not accepted at home. But its concentration of gay black men presents dangerous health risks.

Black gay men tend to socialise and therefore have sex with other black men. And the smaller the pool of potential partners, the more quickly HIV spreads, especially if it goes untreated.

For most people, the height of the epidemic denotes the late 1980s and early 1990s. When white men got access to HIV medication preventative and therapeutic the pool of people with the virus became much smaller. A white gay man in the US has a 1 in 11 chance of being HIV positive.

As the virus abated in the white population, it also dwindled in the public consciousness. Even charities set up to combat HIV and Aids changed focus: their attention turned to the equal marriage fight.

Tori Cooper, an HIV prevention specialist and trans campaigner in Atlanta, says, We forget that there were black people suffering and dying at the very beginning as well. So we became an afterthought even from the beginning.

This is reflected in funding and outreach. The deep south received $35 per HIV-affected person in private grants in 2014, while the national average was $116.

While the HIV and Aids epidemic took many lives and years passed before it began to fade, medical advances mean it should not pose the threat to any community that it now does. An HIV epidemic is medicinally simple to treat. PrEP, a drug that prevents people from contracting the virus, is taken once a day and has been found to offer close to complete protection when taken as prescribed.

Drugs for people who are HIV positive, such as Genvoya which McCurdy takes, are just as impressive. They reduce HIV in the bloodstream to such a point that it is impossible for carriers to transmit the virus. Both drugs work even in cases of unprotected sex and the evidence for their effectiveness can be seen in the white gay community.

The disparity between the two communities is a legacy of the focus on white gay America from the beginning of the epidemic. But it represents a lack of understanding and care for the real centre of the epidemic, or even acknowledgement that an epidemic exists.

Full Article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/01/silent-epidemic-black-gay-men-in-us-face-50-50-risk-of-hiv



God damn, imagine having a new boyfriend and it literally being a flip of a coin as to whether or not he has HIV.

I hate bigots man.
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This is stupid even by your standards Unfair
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lol wut
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Christ that stat is appalling.

But how can we blame straight white m . . .

This is reflected in funding and outreach. The deep south received $35 per HIV-affected person in private grants in 2014, while the national average was $116.
. . .
The disparity between the two communities is a legacy of the focus on white . . .

Ahhh there we go.
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HIV is racist.
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So if you leave man butt alone youre ok right?

Cool.
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Anarchy_Juiblex posted...

Christ that stat is appalling.

But how can we blame straight white m . . .

This is reflected in funding and outreach. The deep south received $35 per HIV-affected person in private grants in 2014, while the national average was $116.
. . .
The disparity between the two communities is a legacy of the focus on white . . .

Ahhh there we go.

They raise a valid point dude

Omega Hunter posted...

So if you leave man butt alone youre ok right?

Cool.

For white men it's 1 in 11
For black men it's 1 in 2.

Don't pretend you can't see the difference there
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@TheUsualSuspect
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This is an amazing headline referencing research that somehow isn't shared with us or linked in the article. It is known that HIV spreads faster in the black community. We know that; we can even identify exacerbating factors behind the disparity.

What we don't know is this 50% statistic. Where exactly is that coming from?
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Huh? Why did you tag me? @Muffinz0rz
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TheUsualSuspect posted...

Huh? Why did you tag me? Muffinz0rz

It was meant to be an inb4 the usual suspects joke
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Risky behavior is risky, because racism.
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hollow_shrine posted...

This is an amazing headline referencing research that somehow isn't shared with us or linked in the article. It is known that HIV spreads faster in the black community. We know that; we can even identify exacerbating factors behind the disparity.

What we don't know is this 50% statistic. Where exactly is that coming from?

I wondered that too, here is their source I believe

https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/2016/croi-press-release-risk.html
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Muffinz0rz posted...

TheUsualSuspect posted...

Huh? Why did you tag me? Muffinz0rz

It was meant to be an inb4 the usual suspects joke

Lol, I like it
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UnfairRepresent posted...

The risk of contracting HIV is one in two if you are a black man in the US who has sex with men. This statistic is all the more startling because so few people are aware of it. I was feeling very sick says Daryon McCurdy, so I went to the doctor and they said, Okay, you have gonorrhea and acute HIV. I was so shocked.

I really hope their delivery wasn't this flat and to the point. You could send a guy to the hospital with this kind of diagnosis.
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BillWardsPants posted...

Risky behavior is risky, because racism.

There's an information gap about risks of infection that correlates strongly with race. Also a lot of the preventative care, like pre-exposure prophylaxis are too expensive for a lot of black men to maintain (assuming they know about it at all). So while one group of people might engage in risky sex (like sex without a condom), there is at bit of extra protection there that minorities might not have. In these and other cases, racism is not the explicit cause, but an exacerbating factor.

Then there are the cultural attitudes towards homosexuality in much of the black community that has men 'on the down low' engaging in risky opportunistic sex with other men. The culture of silence is further contributing to the information gap here.
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hollow_shrine posted...

There's an information gap about risks of infection that correlates strongly with race.

how much of that is explained away through differences in SES?
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Balrog0 posted...

hollow_shrine posted...

This is an amazing headline referencing research that somehow isn't shared with us or linked in the article. It is known that HIV spreads faster in the black community. We know that; we can even identify exacerbating factors behind the disparity.

What we don't know is this 50% statistic. Where exactly is that coming from?

I wondered that too, here is their source I believe

https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/2016/croi-press-release-risk.html

"Half of black gay men and a quarter of Latino gay men projected to be diagnosed within their lifetime"

"Within their lifetime."

I kind of hope you're wrong about this being the source, because if it is, this article is willfully mischaracterizing the nature of the crisis with this headline to stoke fear.
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You got called rayciss and a baguette for pointing out these stats.
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RE_expert44 posted...

HIV is racist.

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hollow_shrine posted...

BillWardsPants posted...

Risky behavior is risky, because racism.

There's an information gap about risks of infection that correlates strongly with race. Also a lot of the preventative care, like pre-exposure prophylaxis are too expensive for a lot of black men to maintain (assuming they know about it at all). So while one group of people might engage in risky sex (like sex without a condom), there is at bit of extra protection there that minorities might not have. In these and other cases, racism is not the explicit cause, but an exacerbating factor.

Then there are the cultural attitudes towards homosexuality in much of the black community that has men 'on the down low' engaging in risky opportunistic sex with other men. The culture of silence is further contributing to the information gap here.

yes
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hollow_shrine posted...

BillWardsPants posted...

Risky behavior is risky, because racism.

There's an information gap about risks of infection that correlates strongly with race. Also a lot of the preventative care, like pre-exposure prophylaxis are too expensive for a lot of black men to maintain (assuming they know about it at all). So while one group of people might engage in risky sex (like sex without a condom), there is at bit of extra protection there that minorities might not have. In these and other cases, racism is not the explicit cause, but an exacerbating factor.

Then there are the cultural attitudes towards homosexuality in much of the black community that has men 'on the down low' engaging in risky opportunistic sex with other men. The culture of silence is further contributing to the information gap here.

There it is
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I would talk about how Caucasians have a high prevalence of Delta 32 CCR5 mutation and are therefore innately more resistant to HIV, but I wouldn't want science to get in the way of the politics in this topic.

One copy of Delta 32 conveys an 80-ish percent resistance, and two copies makes you immune to HIV. Prevalence 10% among europeans, 2% in Asia and nearly 0% in Africa.
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Coffeebeanz posted...

I would talk about how Caucasians have a high prevalence of Delta 32 CCR5 mutation and are therefore innately more resistant to HIV, but I wouldn't want science to get in the way of the politics in this topic.

"I would join in a conversation but I'm too scared"
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UnfairRepresent posted...

Coffeebeanz posted...

I would talk about how Caucasians have a high prevalence of Delta 32 CCR5 mutation and are therefore innately more resistant to HIV, but I wouldn't want science to get in the way of the politics in this topic.

"I would join in a conversation but I'm too scared"

Yeah that's why I posted in your topic, dingus
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Asherlee10 posted...

UnfairRepresent posted...

For men who grow up gay in the south, this kind of shame and stigma makes them less likely to seek information about, and protection for, their sex lives. Closeted sex is inherently dangerous, because it happens in places where it is not safe to talk openly to people who may be able to help. What follows can be a lack of knowledge about safe sex or a huge underestimation of the risk of infection.

This is what's incredibly sad, as well. :(

Also someone who is bisexual and lives in the south, I can confirm that most southern states suck for LGBTQ people.
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I take my sexual education for granted so much.It clearly is still an issue tho

"why be gay when you can be straight?" - wraxu 2017

wise words.
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@Coffeebeanz posted...

I would talk about how Caucasians have a high prevalence of Delta 32 CCR5 mutation and are therefore innately more resistant to HIV, but I wouldn't want science to get in the way of the politics in this topic.

One copy of Delta 32 conveys an 80-ish percent resistance, and two copies makes you immune to HIV. Prevalence 10% among europeans, 2% in Asia and nearly 0% in Africa.

Sauce?

myzz7 posted...

"why be gay when you can be straight?" - wraxu 2017

wise words.

Homosexuality is not a choice.

You think people who live in communities that oppose and often murder them for sucking cock would choose to want to suck cock if it was up to them?
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Asherlee10 posted...

@ProtoManSPx posted...

Coffeebeanz posted...

I would talk about how Caucasians have a high prevalence of Delta 32 CCR5 mutation and are therefore innately more resistant to HIV, but I wouldn't want science to get in the way of the politics in this topic.

One copy of Delta 32 conveys an 80-ish percent resistance, and two copies makes you immune to HIV. Prevalence 10% among europeans, 2% in Asia and nearly 0% in Africa.

Sauce?

It may be something she specifically studies or practices on (she's a doctor).

I see.

No one talks about it? Magic Johnson did talk about it.
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myzz7 posted...

"why be gay when you can be straight?" - wraxu 2017

wise words.

Who?

ProtoManSPx posted...

@Coffeebeanz posted...

I would talk about how Caucasians have a high prevalence of Delta 32 CCR5 mutation and are therefore innately more resistant to HIV, but I wouldn't want science to get in the way of the politics in this topic.

One copy of Delta 32 conveys an 80-ish percent resistance, and two copies makes you immune to HIV. Prevalence 10% among europeans, 2% in Asia and nearly 0% in Africa.

Sauce?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCR5

C-C chemokine receptor type 5, also known as CCR5or CD195, is a protein on the surface of white blood cells that is involved in the immune system as it acts as a receptor for chemokines. This is the process by which T cells are attracted to specific tissue and organ targets. Many forms of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, initially use CCR5 to enter and infect host cells. Certain individuals carry a mutation known as CCR5-32 in the CCR5 gene, protecting them against these strains of HIV

CCR5 32 is a 32-base-pair deletion that introduces a premature stop codon into the CCR5 receptor locus, resulting in a nonfunctional receptor.[30][31] CCR5 is required for M-tropic HIV-1 virus entry.[32] Individuals homozygous for CCR5 32 do not express functional CCR5 receptors on their cell surfaces and are resistant to HIV-1 infection, despite multiple high-risk exposures.[32] Individuals heterozygous for the mutant allele have a greater than 50% reduction in functional CCR5 receptors on their cell surfaces due to dimerization between mutant and wild-type receptors that interferes with transport of CCR5 to the cell surface.[33] Heterozygote carriers are resistant to HIV-1 infection relative to wild types and when infected, heterozygotes exhibit reduced viral loads and a 2-3-year-slower progression to AIDS relative to wild types.[30][32][34] Heterozygosity for this mutant allele also has shown to improve one's virological response to anti-retroviral treatment.[35]CCR5 32 has an (heterozygote) allele frequency of 10% in Europe, and a homozygote frequency of 1%.

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https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats16/minorities.htm
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UnfairRepresent posted...

God damn, imagine having a new boyfriend and it literally being a flip of a coin as to whether or not he has HIV.

I hate bigots man.

LOL
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KillerKhan420 posted...

No one talks about it? Magic Johnson did talk about it.

That's a special case tho
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Nukleen posted...

https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats16/minorities.htm

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Nukleen posted...

Nukleen posted...

https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats16/minorities.htm

This is an important link
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RE_expert44 posted...

HIV is racist.

No, but as mentioned, HIV basically disappeared from the public consciousness when it stopped being a huge issue among White homosexuals, even though it's still a dangerous problem among Black homosexuals.
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Solar_Crimson posted...

RE_expert44 posted...

HIV is racist.

No, but as mentioned, HIV basically disappeared from the public consciousness when it stopped being a huge issue among White homosexuals, even though it's still a dangerous problem among Black homosexuals.

It disappeared from the public consciousness because it's no longer a terminal disease if you take your antivirals daily.
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Coffeebeanz posted...

Solar_Crimson posted...

RE_expert44 posted...

HIV is racist.

No, but as mentioned, HIV basically disappeared from the public consciousness when it stopped being a huge issue among White homosexuals, even though it's still a dangerous problem among Black homosexuals.

It disappeared from the public consciousness because it's no longer a terminal disease if you take your antivirals daily.

hmm
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Coffeebeanz posted...

Solar_Crimson posted...

RE_expert44 posted...

HIV is racist.

No, but as mentioned, HIV basically disappeared from the public consciousness when it stopped being a huge issue among White homosexuals, even though it's still a dangerous problem among Black homosexuals.

It disappeared from the public consciousness because it's no longer a terminal disease if you take your antivirals daily.

This is a valid point
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What the fuck kind of garbage journalism is this? Blatant clickbait title with thinly veiled racist implications that never actually comments on where the fuck the information comes from. Did they just interview the guy and some guy in the office and draw their conclusion from that?

You seem more angry at the news then angry about black men suffering
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