FIGURE 1. Estimated percentage of persons diagnosed with HIV with infection attributed to male-to-male contact or male-to-male contact and injection drug use, by area of residence — National HIV Surveillance System, United States, 2011.
In 2011, MSM accounted for at least half of persons diagnosed with HIV in all but two states. The percentage of MSM reporting unprotected anal sex at least once in the past 12 months increased from 2005 to 2011, from 48% in 2005, to 54% in 2008, and 57% in 2011. The trend was statistically significant among self-reported HIV-negative or unknown status MSM (47%, 54%, and 57%, respectively.) The most severally affected areas were my home state of California; as well as Oregon and Washington: where 80-82% of all HIV infections were attributed to male-to-male contact or male-to-male contact with injection drug use.
On a personal, purely unscientific level, this news is heartbreaking; for I was once one of those who were duped and deceived into believing that California, more specifically – San Francisco, held the magical elixir that would create a gay paradise on Earth. The call first rung in my ears as a child, because every young confused boy who grew up in the disco era heard the anthem of “Go West” by The Village People. In 1979 they sang:
“Together we will love the beach, together we will learn and teach.
Together change our pace of life, together we will work and strive.
I love you, I know you love me; I want you happy and carefree.
So that’s why I have no protest when you say you want to go west.
Go west, life is peaceful there.
Go west, lots of open air…”
It was an alluring and powerful lie. For myself, I bought into it, yet – I did not have to go very far: just about 40 miles south of my hometown. When I got there, I met many others who had given up everything and traveled across the country. It was the third great Western migration: after the pioneer days of the 49’ers, and the Dust-Bowl refugees of the Depression. The wave of gay wanderers to the Golden State were drawn by the same promise of a land overflowing with milk and honey. But, this time, the plenty would be combined with the appeal of sexual freedom and homosexual camaraderie. Yet, lurking just below the surface: was a growing epidemic. By the time I got to San Francisco, many of those early settlers had already been killed off. Tragically, I had to watch as the second generation became sick and fell into their graves. It was like living through a war; and; disastrously, the slaughter continues.
I worked for the San Francisco Examiner as a business writer, 1988-91. A young man in the office used to carry a bottle of ashes with him. I said to him one day, “Is that a human being?” Yes, he said, “It is my lover. I carry him everywhere.” The young man was sick with AIDs. Some years later I was at the UN lobbying for the pro-life cause and met an African woman. My 12-year-old son was with me. I forget how the topic came up, but in order to explain the difference between the homosexual lifestyle and and that of loving faithful marriage, I told her the story of the vile of ashes, and then asked her if she would prefer the ashes or my son, the fruit of my marriage. Somehow that story doesn't seem remotely funny any more although it does illustrate the gospel: “Judge the true by its fruits.” I am so very sorry for the way men have been lured into this lifestyle. Yes, the cross is very heavy sometimes, but someday we'll be free of all that, and happy with Him in eternity. Others, if they don't have the same conversion as we did, will be in a very dark place … We must pray harder. Thank you for going into the Castro District to talk to them. I wish I could join you. Susan Fox Catholic blogger http://www.christsfaithfulwitness.com
Scriptures say we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We renew our minds by reading, studying and meditating on God's word. Is word is truth and light. T. W.