HIV Is Not Gay!

Hello everyone, I want to share this very important public service announcement: HIV is not gay, I repeat, HIV is not gay!

As an HIV education and testing facility, we hear all the time from well meaning people, “I don’t need a test thanks, I’m not gay.” The thing is, HIV is a virus and self-replicates, so it is completely asexual and an equal-opportunist. HIV is not gay, and it’s not heterosexual, either.

Across the globe, HIV has affected people in every culture, socioeconomic status, religious group, etc. Its only requirement is a host, like you or me. HIV does not judge or discriminate. An article in The Guardian from February this year reported that “49% of new diagnoses in England are among straight/heterosexual people (with an almost even split between men and women), compared with 45% for gay and bisexual men.” You may be thinking, “So what, that’s England,” but I’m here to tell you that the LGBTQ+ community has done an excellent job of self-advocacy and education, and their numbers are not increasing as they are in the heterosexual community. Do not imagine that similar patterns aren’t in play here, especially among those who believe they are protected against the virus simply based on their sexual preference.

Discrimination, poverty, homophobia and especially stigma are all social issues that can prevent people from getting high-quality health care. Stigma kills. As a child I heard my parents and relatives only whisper the word ‘cancer.’ Imagine that! Those whispers made it something to hide, and many people were hesitant to get cancer screenings, so they put it off. Now we know that early detection is the most important factor in preventing death by cancer.

That same sort of unwarranted stigma and unnecessary suffering still happen because many believe HIV is a gay person’s virus. When heteronormative folks think they may have it, they are often hesitant to get tested, because they worry about what others might think or say about them. Stigma about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is everywhere. Fear about what others could think or say is killing people.

We offer medications to prevent HIV, and well-meaning people ask me all the time whether it is “morally okay” for me to offer pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). I work for a healthcare facility, we’re not a church or the police. PrEP medications are safe, effective and save lives.

HIV is no longer a death sentence, but with that diagnosis comes increased risk of certain types of cancers and other conditions. PrEP medications are for anyone who is sexually active and does not regularly use protection. You can acquire HIV from a single unprotected sexual encounter. Good science estimates that 85% of new HIV cases among females are from an unprotected heterosexual encounter. When taken as prescribed PrEP is 99.7% effective in preventing HIV. Sex workers and people who inject drugs can also benefit from these medications. PrEP is 74% effective in preventing HIV in those who inject, which is pretty good considering they’re injecting the virus directly into their veins.

We also offer post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP is a medication that can prevent you from becoming HIV-positive even after a direct exposure to it. We have these medications on hand in our office to respond to any PEP emergency, we even have staff on-call on weekends and holidays in the event of an exposure. Call: 928-910-6707.

A PEP emergency is an accidental needle stick, a condom break, a sexual assault by someone of unknown status, or you wake up foggy after a night out and someone had spiked your beverage and possibly taken advantage of you/your body in an incapacitated state. Yes, date or out-drinking rape is a real issue here in Yavapai County.

If this kind of attack happens to you, we have PEP to help you avoid becoming HIV-positive. Do not hesitate to come for care. Do not be afraid or embarrassed, it isn’t your fault. The assault drugs can be colorless, tasteless and odorless. Rohypnol does turn blue in light-colored drinks, ketamine acts almost instantly. Remember, if it happens to you, don’t be afraid to get help.

We have offices in Cottonwood and Prescott to help you. No judgment, blaming or shaming here. Northland Cares is a stigma-free zone!

This is Hedda Fay reminding you that sex is an important part of who we are as mammals, and there are prevention tools to keep it safe for you and your partner(s).