Confronting rising HIV rates among gay and bisexual men

By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | November 9, 2011

HAS RHODE ISLAND FAILED TO CONDUCT ADEQUATE OUTREACH TO GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN? WHY? As a state I think there is an urgent need to pay much more attention to and invest in HIV prevention for gay and bisexual men, because at least in terms of funding community efforts, they have been largely neglected. For example, in April 2011, the Rhode Island Department of Health gave out about $491,000 to six community agencies to perform HIV prevention, and not a single dollar of it targets adult gay men (ages 22 and over). The factors responsible for this predicament are complex, and in order to address them my current focus is on the future and how we can facilitate change by requiring that state HIV funding has financial "carve-outs" earmarked for high-risk groups in proportion with disease burden, building capacity to conduct HIV prevention in communities, and ensuring that the voices of those most impacted by HIV/AIDS are being heard.

AFTER AN OUTBREAK OF SYPHILIS AMONG GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN, THE STATE ASKED THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION TO CONDUCT SURVEYS OF THIS POPULATION AND RECOMMEND INTERVENTIONS. CDC'S REPORT IS DUE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. WHAT KIND OF RECOMMENDATIONS ARE YOU EXPECTING? CAN WE COUNT ON THE STATE TO FOLLOW THROUGH? The CDC report may provide some general insights about the demographics and behaviors of the men that completed surveys, however, I think we need to immediately start focusing on a local response with the following realities in mind: most gay and bisexual don't know about syphilis and how to prevent it, the only public STD clinic was recently shut down due to state budget cuts, and many men struggle with finding "gay-friendly" doctors. I don't think we need to wait for the CDC report to take action and I don't think we can afford to wait any longer — since the outbreak started two years ago. Work needs to begin right now on the development and implementation of a comprehensive syphilis prevention plan.

< prev 1 | 2 |

Topics: This Just In , Rhode Island, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Relationships, More

| More

Most Popular

The Current Issue

Table of Contents

Cover Archive

Masthead | Authors | Contact us

Blogs

Where To Follow Me
Talking Politics | March 24, 2013 at 11:09 AM

Mo Takes His Turn
March 21, 2013 at 12:59 PM

[Q&A] KMFDM's Sascha Konietzko on art, Columbine and having balls
On The Download | March 18, 2013 at 3:22 PM

See this film series: The Belmont World Film Series @ Studio Cinema in Belmont
Outside The Frame | March 18, 2013 at 11:00 AM

See this film: This is Spinal Tap [with post-film talk by expert from Acoustical Society of America] @ the Coolidge
March 17, 2013 at 12:00 PM

ARTICLES BY DAVID SCHARFENBERG

LIBERAL WARRIOR | April 10, 2013
When it comes to his signature issues — climate change, campaign finance reform, tax fairness — Whitehouse makes little secret of his approach: marshal the facts, hammer the Republicans, and embarrass them into action.

AT BROWN, A WIN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVISTS | April 11, 2013
A key Brown University oversight committee has voted to recommend the school divest from coal, delivering a significant victory to student climate change activists.

HACKING POLITICS: A GUIDE | April 03, 2013
Last year, the Internet briefly upended everything we know about American politics.

BREAK ON THROUGH | March 28, 2013
When I spoke with Treasurer Gina Raimondo this week, I opened with the obligatory question about whether she'll run for governor. "I'm seriously considering it," she said. "But I think as you know — we've talked about it before — I have little kids: a six-year-old, an eight-year-old. I'm a mother. It's a big deal."

THE LIBERAL CASE FOR GUNS | March 27, 2013
The school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut spurred hope not just for sensible gun regulation, but for a more nuanced discussion of America's gun culture. Neither wish has been realized.