chastity, virginity

Angela:

The statistics you quote say that through 2004, over 440,000 people had gotten AIDS through Male-to-Male sexual relations.  159,000 had gotten it from heterosexual contact.  The point I've been trying to make is that a lot of the people who get it from heterosexual contact in the US have gotten it from a partner who may or may not be strictly heterosexual.  Janie knows that she got infected from Michael.  What she doens't know is that Michael has sex with other men.  Hence the "down low" phenomenon. 

Here's some info from the CDC:  In the United States, HIV and AIDS have had a tremendous effect on men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM accounted for approximately two thirds of all HIV infections among men in 2003, even though only about 5% to 7% of men in the United States identify themselves as MSM [1, 2]. The number of HIV diagnoses for MSM decreased during the 1980s and 1990s, but recent surveillance data show an increase in HIV diagnoses for this group [3]. Given the high prevalence of HIV infection in young MSM of minority races and ethnicities, there is a continued need for culturally diverse prevention and education services.

According to the CDC, through 2003:

* Male to Male Sex was the transmission mode in  59% of the cases

* Injection drug use was the transmission mode in 23% of the cases

* Male-to-Male Sex + Injection drug use.... 8%

* Heterosexual sex 8%

* Other 2%

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/msm.htm

Here's some more statistics for you: 

In a study of HIV-infected persons, 34% of African American men who have sex with men (MSM) reported having had sex with women, even though only 6% of African American women reported having had sex with a bisexual man.  (There's a big disconnect there!)

The rate of AIDS diagnoses for African American adults and adolescents was 10 times the rate for whites and almost 3 times the rate for Hispanics. The rate of AIDS diagnoses for African American women was 23 times the rate for white women. The rate of AIDS diagnoses for African American men was 8 times the rate for white men.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/resources/factsheets/aa.htm

The fear is that the phenomenon of hiding one's sexualiy may be similar in Latino and Muslim communities where the stigma against being homosexual is so high.

If you are straight you are not immune from AIDS... but I know of no gay man who isn't acutely aware that he is in a high risk group for AIDS.  Yes, women need to educate themselves... but they also need to be aware that just because their partner seems heterosexual, he may not be.  Tha's the point of my post... and perhaps that speaks well to the Muslim practice of having a Wali (guardian) and of investigating one's spouse prior to marriage.

The scariest thing about the AIDS epidemic in Africa to me, besides its prevalence, is that the witch doctors have told the men to have sexs with virgins to get rid of the disease.  And becaue of this, rapes are occuring...even of infant girls.  Sick.

As to your LDS status, I just find it srange that you'd hang out on Muslim boards unless you were interested in Islam.  As you are quoting Joseph Smith, it doesn't seem that you are.  What is this, your internet mission?

I just found this other statistic I would like to Share about AIDS.

http://www.aidsquilt.org/hivaidsworldstats.htm

(all data is effective 2001)

AIDS Cases by Age

Of the estimated number of AIDS cases, person�s age at time of diagnosis were distributed as follows:

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AIDS Cases by Race/Ethnicity

Estimated numbers of diagnoses of AIDS, by race or ethnicity:

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AIDS Cases by Exposure Category

Following is the distribution of the estimated number of diagnoses of AIDS among adults and adolescents by exposure category. A breakdown by sex is provided where appropriate.

The distribution of the estimated number of diagnoses of AIDS, among children*** by exposure categories follows:

*Includes persons with a diagnosis of AIDS from the beginning of the epidemic through 2004.
** Includes hemophilia, blood transfusion, and risk not reported or not identified.
***The term "children" refers to persons under age 13 at the time of diagnosis.

According to this website, the CDC, there were 24,777 reported cases of AIDS infection that were not contracted through Homosexual sex and only 17,691 that were that means that is NOT more prevailent in the homosexual community.  Again, you are propogating a myth.  AIDS is most commonly spread through unprotected sex....but that doesn't mean homosexual sex.  The only way to be sure not to get AIDS is know ALL THE RISK FACTORS.  Abstain from sex until marriage.  Talk to your partner about AIDS and get tested.  Don't do drugs and ask questions when getting tattoos and other medical procedures.  If you know you've got an upcoming elective surgery.  Donate Blood and have it kept for transfusion back into you at the surgery, or have family donate blood.

As for the LDS quote.  I'm LDS, so its my quote for now....I change periodically.  Do you find fault with what Joseph is saying here?  Has he said anything that is counter to the truth?  If God requires it, can it be bad??????  I rather like the quote.  You don't have to accept Joseph Smith, I'm not here to proselyte.  But he is one of MY Prophets and I would ask that you respect my choice and let the matter drop.

Angela wrote: AIDS is not just a Homosexual disease.  This is the greatest and deadliest myth surrounding AIDS.  You can get AIDS from Heterosexual partners and its spreading quickest among heterosexual blacks.  The Homosexual community is aware of the disease, but its the Heterosexuals that aren't learning the lessons. AIDS can be spread through unclean hospitals, blood transfusions.  By sex, through prostitutes, promiscious liasons and by birth.  Drug needles are another risk factor. People need to be educated about ALL THE RISK FACTORS and people need to stop blaming the Gay community.  The disease originated out of tainted Monkey meat in the Congo......the first cases weren't even from sex.

Angela:

I never claimed it was a gay disease, but it is more prevalent among homosexual men.  There is a very real issue in the world today, at least in the African-American community here in the States, of men who are gay but do not consider themselves to be so (use bisexual if you prefer).... who have gay sex which their partners know nothing about and infect their partners.  Many infectious disease experts feel that this accounts for the high rate of infection among heterosexual African-American women.  The CDC is actually investigating this phenomenon to see how it has impacted the transmission rates.  Yes, it can be gotten through heterosexual sex, tainted needles, blood transfusions, etc.  But denying that gay sex is a transmission form is ignorant as well.

The best form of prevention is to follow Allah's plan... remain a virgin until marriage and remain faithful to your marriage partner.  Promiscuity is the issue with all STDs.

And yes, anti-gay attitudes among Muslims can affect this as very few gay Muslim men that I know (and yes I do know some... and yes one can be gay and Muslim) are "out" to anybody in their family or community.  The stigma is just too great.  Remember, one can still be put to death or in jail for homosexual sex in most Muslim countries.

Peace.

Why the LDS quote? Do you really think that any Muslim who believes in one God, that God had know offspring, and that Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Prophet would ever believe in Joseph Smith or Bringham Young as a prophet?