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Understanding AIDS: Impact on Homosexuality

Learn about Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), its connection with homosexuality, symptoms, affected populations, early cases, media coverage, community responses, and controversies like blood donation bans. Explore the history and impact of AIDS in the homosexual community.

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Understanding AIDS: Impact on Homosexuality

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  1. AIDs and Homosexuality Sarah Kravitz

  2. What is AIDs? • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome • Disease develops after contact with a disease causing agent • Weakens the immune system • Symptoms include infections, cancer, decrease in the number of CD4 and T cells which help fight disease

  3. AIDs vs. HIV • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Can lead to AIDs • Also destroys CD4 and T cells • Spread through needles, syringes and sexual contact • AIDS is the result of HIV and is manifested in infections that the body can’t fight off because it lacks CD4 and T cells

  4. Who is affected by aids? • Men who have sex with Men (MSM) • Blood transfusion patients • Hemophiliacs • Intravenous drug users • Heterosexual men and women • Babies with infected mothers

  5. Early Cases • 1981—CDC MMWR • New York City • San Francisco Bay area • The term AIDS was not used until 1982 • Kaposi’s Sarcoma • Gay Cancer • Pneumocystis Pneumonia • GRID

  6. Patient zero • GaëtanDugas (1953-1984) • Canadian homosexual flight attendant • AIDS can’t actually be trace back to this individual but he was the first patient in which doctors saw the disease • His case was linked to 40 of the early cases

  7. Aids in the media • NY Times “Rare Cancer Seen in 41 Homosexuals” • Larry Kramer • Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) • 1982 • “1,112 and Counting” • 1983 • ACT UP • 1987 • Randy Shilts • San Francisco Chronicle • And the Band Played On • 1987

  8. Responses in Homosexual Community • Suicide • Rates of STDs in the homosexual community declined • Bathhouses closing • Level terror and paranoia • Activism • Fundraising for medical research

  9. AIDs in MSM • In March 1983, 72.4% of serious AIDS cases were MSM • MSM makes up about 2% of the U.S. Population • More than 60% of MSM are infected with AIDS

  10. Blood Donation • 1983 Blood ban on MSM by the FDA • No good screening methods • Hemophiliacs who received blood transfusions began getting AIDS • Disproportionate number of MSM had AIDS, so to protect the blood supply the FDA prohibited MSM from donating • Discrimination • Banned based on sexual orientation  not practices and habits • Blood supply shortages • We have legitimate screening methods now so why can’t homosexuals donate?

  11. 1982 ABC News Cast • http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2033511

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