Friday, February 19, 2010

(5) Safe Sex Becomes Seductive: The Gay Battle for Social Reorganization of America

SAFE SEX?
In the last 30 years condoms have been claimed to provide safe sex or safer sex. Condoms are being sold and distributed around the world as the solution to casual sexual behaviors in preventing pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. They are being 'pushed'by school and university health clinics, and even medical facilities with the implicatin that sex will be safe if you 'protect' yourself with a condom. However, the typical use failure rate of condoms is 14%, accounting for inconsistent and incorrect use as well as breakage and slippage. Use factors such as experience, condom size and use of lubricant can affect slippage and breakage. 1.

A study involving 26,291 homosexual men and heterosexual man and women who visited the University of Colorado's clinic in Denver over a two year period reported that 57% of the women, 48% of the heterosexual men and 33% of the homosexual men reported error in condom use.2.

Efficacy rates for condom use is generally reported for pregnancy. However, rates for sexually transmitted diseases vary by disease. Condoms do not prevent transmission of the human papillomavirus which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Michigan's statewide gay newspaper, Between The Lines , reports that the risk of anal cancer increases by nearly 4,000% for men who have sex with men. They state that a condom only offers limited protection against anal cancer.3.

Suppose, for example, that 20 million people used condoms for 'protection' and safe sex. By the typical use rate of 14% failure, two million and eight hundred thousand people will be unpleasantly surprised that they were, in fact, not safe.

STD's IN THE GAY POPULATION

The Center for Disease Control (CDC)reports statistics on sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) in the United States and its dependent areas. Health departments report their data to CDC so the information can be analyzed to determine who is being affected and why. The CDC 2008 surveillance report estimates that there are approximately 19 million new STD infections each year - almost half of them among young people 15-24 years of age.

Syphilis makes a comeback

Syphilis was a disease that was on the verge of elimination. In 2001 it re-emerged as a public health threat because of a resurgence of the disease among men who have sex with men (MSM). In 2008 there were 13,500 reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis, the most infectious stages of the disease. Reported cases of syphilis showed that 63% were among MSM. This is of particular concern because syphilis infection facilitates HIV transmission. Syphilis rates among blacks were about eight times higher than that of whites in 2008.4.

HIV/AIDS enters the country

HIV was introduced into the U.S. through the homosexual community. After its initial diagnosis in 1981, it spread rapidly across the country through male homosexuality, intravenous drug use, bisexuality, and multiple heterosexual partners. Infants were infected by mothers who had the HIV virus. In 2006, CDC estimated that over half (53%) of new cases occurred in gay and bisexual men.

Through 2007, the cumulative estimated number of AIDS diagnoses in the 50 states and the District of Columbia(DC) was well over one million - 1,018,428. Over half of these cases(50.3%)was reported in four states: New York, California, Florida and Texas. By 2007, the cumulative estimated number of deaths from AIDS in the 50 states and DC included 557,902 adults and adolescents and 4,891 children under 13 years of age. Although Blacks represented about 12% of the U.S. population, cumulated estimated AIDS cases for Black and African Americans through 2007 exceeded that of Whites, numbering 426,003 to 404,465 respectively. Black women were particularly affected as bisexual men brought the disease home to their wives and girlfriends. 5.

# of AIDS cases for 50 states and DC through 2007 = 1,018,428
# of AIDS deaths for 50 states and DC through 2007 = 562,793


Life expectancy for gay and bisexual men is compromised by perhaps 20 years.
An article printed in the New York Times reported that a young male homosexual has about a 50% chance of getting HIV by middle age. In 1998 the CDC reported that an estimated half of all new infections of HIV in the U.S. were among people under 25.6.

Other STD's common among the homosexual population.

Included in this list of particular concern is anal cancer. Other maladies include Chlamydia, cryptosporidium, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus or genital warts, isospora belli, microsporidia, gonorrhea, viral hepatitis types B&C and syphilis. 7.

PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE POLICIES

Joseph Nicolosi, President of NARTH said, "Most medical groups have embraced the homosexual agenda and are advocating that lifestyle despite all the scientific studies and medical evidence that demonstrate medical and psychological risks...Homosexual activism and political correctness are clearly trumping science." 8.

It is essential in any society that policies are implemented that promote and protect the health and well-being of its citizens. The American Public Health Association and other health organizations must be aggressively held accountable for accurate reporting. 'Activist spin' must not be allowed to override responsible scientific research.

Evidence shows that mortality and morbidity rates are substantially higher for those who engage in homosexual practices, particularly anal intercourse, with the tearing of the rectal lining and diseases associated with subsequent contact with fecal matter. "Activism must not be placed above science in informing public policy. It is an injustice to homosexual men and women to allow activism, including accusations of homophobia, to silence discussion of health risks or to suppress research." 9.


REFERENCES
1.Workshop Summary:Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention. 2000, June 12-13. Hyatt Dulles Airport. Herndon, VA. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Nat. Institute of Health, Dept. of Health and Human Services. July 20, 2001:10. http://www.3.nlaid.nih.gov/about/organization/dmid/pof/condomreport.pdf.
2.Condomman, "Condom Use and the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases." http://www.condomman.com/articles/index.php?tag=rising-std-rates. April 19, 2008.
3. Glenn, Gary. "Compassionate Society Should Discourage Homosexual Behavior." American Family Association. htp://www.freepublic.com/focus/f-news/1039280/posts. March 19, 2001.
4.CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance, 2008". http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats08/trends.htm. 1/10/2010.
5.CDC. "Basic Statistics, 2007". http://www,cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/print/basic.htm. 1/10/2010.
6. Brinkman,Susan. "Health risks of the homosexual lifestyle." Catholic Standard & Times (May-June, 2004). http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/printarticle.html?id=4236. 1/10/2010.
7. Ibid
8. Ibid.
9. Byrd, A. Dean."The American Journal of Public Health Highlights Risks of Homosexual Practices." NARTH. http://www.narth.com/docs/risks.html. 1/10/2010.