CDC Blames Serosorting For Syphilis Jump

In a discouraging report that notes the seventh straight year of an increase in the rate of syphilis, Centers For Disease Control head of STD prevention Dr. John Douglas notes that most of the increase can be attributed to gay/bisexual men. Douglas goes on to blame the practice of serosorting among HIV-positive gay men for much of the rise in cases.

Douglas said many cases are occurring in HIV-positive men who are choosing other HIV-positive men as sexual partners. "Within that relationship, they are less concerned about the transmission of other conditions. They're not using condoms. They believe that their partner already has got the worst they can get -- they've got an HIV infection," he said.

Serosorting is the controversial practice of only having sex with partners of the same HIV status. The San Francisco Department of Public Health has speculated that the popularity of serosorting among HIV-positive men accounts for that city's simultaneous rise in STDs and decline in new HIV infections. Syphilis is sometimes transmitted by oral sex, for which virtually no gay men use condoms.

UB2 Dating Hits Gotham

A new monthly gay dating event called "HIV-, UB2" launches in December.

In response to the recent upward trend of new HIV infections in our city, the time has come to support HIV- people who wish to meet other HIV- people. To offer support, empowerment, awareness and understanding so HIV- people can create the same support network that HIV+ people have. For us to win the war against HIV, we must understand that HIV- people are the future. If you are HIV- and wish to meet other HIV- people, join us.

It's time to move forward and to reach our goal - the END OF HIV.

There are many dating support groups out there for poz guys and a similar service for HIV- guys doesn't strike me as inherently wrong. Still, I don't like the wording of this ad, the "HIV- people are the future" part really pisses me off and the title of the event is flat out offensive. As was noted here on JMG several posts down, by far the most infectious HIV+ people are the ones who think they are HIV-, the target audience for this event.

It bears repeating that unless you haven't had sex since several months before your last negative HIV result and not at all since, there are ONLY two ways to answer this question:

Are you HIV positive?

A) Yes.
B) I don't know.

Any other answer is pure speculation.