Comments | gsa_lj: New study shows HIV rates by county

fabfemmeboy in gsa_lj

New study shows HIV rates by county

Jun 23, 2009 08:43

New Map Shows HIV Rates

The long and short of it: HIV/AIDS is now far more of a problem in the South, SF/NY barely crack the top 50 by percentage of the population, and the rate is much, much higher among African Americans.

So there'll be a ban on non-white people donating blood-...oh...wait...no...

hiv/aids, the south, statistics

Comments 7

sooverthetop June 23 2009, 13:51:19 UTC

This comment made me rage so hard:

"It is a gay and black disease not because of their philosophy or race. It is due to their sexual practices. Both groups are known for their practice of anal intercourse. Go ahead, deny it but it is just a simple fact. There has to be a connection to the practice. Many people who become HIV positive through through other means do not end up with AIDS."

Why do I even read the comments? Why, why? I could pick it apart, but there's just so much wrong with it I could be here all day.

sooverthetop June 23 2009, 13:55:14 UTC

Oh and thanks a lot for posting this to enlighten us. Thinking of HIV as a "gay disease" you would expect it to be most prevalent in California/New York, but when you think of it as a normal STD, it would make sense to see it more prevalent in the South, where they have a penchant for preaching no sex before marriage and not teaching about condoms.

ghey_me_up June 23 2009, 23:46:13 UTC

Don't ever, EVER read the comments to an AOL article -- they are unequivocally the most ignorant bunch of loudmouth bigots I've ever seen on the internet outside specific hate sites.

keito_f June 23 2009, 16:34:25 UTC

I tried accessing the map, but it only had information for NYC.

tko_ak June 24 2009, 03:50:21 UTC

It surprises me to an extent that SF and NY wouldn't have higher rates, but in some ways, it makes sense. I mean, there have to be resources and education in those places than the middle of nowhere/more conservative areas/etc.

fabfemmeboy June 24 2009, 06:14:38 UTC

Pretty much. In San Francisco at least, safe sex is so ingrained in people - particularly given the ridiculously comprehensive sex ed that students get - that it's not even a question.

keito_f June 24 2009, 13:32:08 UTC

Also if people are more relaxed about sex, it isn't such a big deal to get condoms. If your community is one that pushes abstinence over any other sex ed, then getting condoms is more difficult. If you start your sexual life not using condoms, you may be less likely to use them even when you get older.