Scientists announced in an article published in the journal Nature that they have decoded the entire genetic structure of HIV-1, the primary strain of the virus affecting the developed world. Though still unclear the significance, the hope, as always, is that the discovery will help them find better ways to combat the virus. It appears the primary hope is understanding how the virus evades the human body’s immune system.
We can only wait and hope.
A new study presented at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention reveals that, regardless of sexual orientation, monogamy rates are rising from similar studies done in 1975:
The study may answer my friends’ question: “Where did all the cruisers go?” It may also answer my question: “What happened to the sexual revolution?” Aside from a violent anti-choice and anti-reproductive freedom lobby, it appears to have been supplanted by the dream of a picket fence and two dogs.
Found this perusing Manhunt this morning:
I’m a bareback bottom who loves getting bred …so what if I have to take a pill a day for the rest of my full life.I’m usually into pozzalicious hotties, only cuz I haven’t used a condom in years and don’t miss them. I have been known to hook up with negative guys too….I’m not prejudice!
Though I’m enthused by his honesty at his status, the not-so-subtle pro-HIV infection message is, well, disturbing. He kind of looks like a bot, too.
Today, the American Psychological Association, after a ten-year review of research and literature, concluded thus:
The task force conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed journal literature on sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) and concluded that efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm, contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners and advocates.
Even though the research and clinical literature demonstrate that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality, regardless of sexual orientation identity, the task force concluded that the population that undergoes SOCE tends to have strongly conservative religious views that lead them to seek to change their sexual orientation.
Thus, the appropriate application of affirmative therapeutic interventions for those who seek SOCE involves therapist acceptance, support, and understanding of clients and the facilitation of clients’ active coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, without imposing a specific sexual orientation identity outcome.
In the United States, only gay men (or, rather, “men who have sex with men”) are the only blatant member of the LGBTQ that are banned from blood donations. In China, a 1998 law goes a little further by banning all blood donations from identified gays and lesbians, and the lesbians are starting a petition to change the policy. The government excuses the ban, pointing to the high rates of STD’s amongst LGBTQ folks (not true for blood borne STD’s amongst women who have sex with women, by the way), and the widely held belief that the AIDS virus took hold in the world’s most populous nation due to the tainted blood supply.
In a country of 1.3 billion or so, only getting 1,000 signatures for a petition seems to be a drop in the bucket. Even in this country, 1,000 would likely get poo-poo’d by the federal government. Go to it, girls, but let’s aim higher!
HIV Rates Per 100,000 Population, 2001-2005
