Friday, July 1, 2011

Time to Man Up and Stop the Spread of HIV/AIDS

I recently published a column where in I called for non-violent peer pressure to stop unhealthy homosexual behavior. Well I got a rise, no pun intended, from the LGBT community. Gay activists lit up my Facebook page. That is good because that is just the community I wish to reach.
The Florida Department of Health produced a report titled, "MAN UP: The Crisis of HIV/AIDS Amoung Florida's Men". The report states, "The report also seeks to encourage men to “man up” and take responsibility for the consequences of their sexual actions and other HIV risk behaviors, for the benefit of themselves and their partners."
I fully agree. Time for us men to man up!
But why and why now? Because all of the peer pressures we see in our schools, work places, communities and government are promoting bad behaviors over good behaviors in the name of "diversity" with terrible consequences. This is all in the name of tolerence. When tolerance is a one way street then we are facing cultural suicide. It is time to man up. It is time for both men and women to take responsibilty for our actions, especially those that are unhealthy and deadly.
How do we man up? Non-violent peer pressure. It is time for men to take a stand against behaviors that harm themselves, their children, families, communities and our society. Among these is under aged sex, drug abuse, under aged drinking, and homosexuality.
Acording to the MAN UP Report, "In Florida, 1 in 209 white men, compared to 1 in 44 black men and 1 in 117 Hispanic men are living with HIV/AIDS (reported cases). Males account for the majority of HIV/AIDS cases in Florida. Men should begin engaging in frank discussions about the seriousness of HIV/AIDS andinclude women and adolescents in the discussions."
Time for frank discussions.
So who is most likely to contract HIV/AIDS? I took a look at my own county, Sarasota, FL. We are in the top four counties in Florida in reported cases of HIV/AIDS. According to the Sarasota County 2010 Statistics on Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) produced by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH):
1. In Sarasota County, 841 persons were living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) as of the end of 2010.This is an increase of 36 new people reported as HIV positive in 2010.
2. Of those living with HIV/AIDS 69.5% of cases is due to Men who have sex with Men (MSM) or who are Bi Male.
3. An additional 6.3% are due to a combination of MSM and intravenous drug use.
4. IV Drug User (IDU) accounts for 6.9% of HIV/AIDS cases in men.
So, men, it is time to man up. So less than 1% of all males engage in this behavior. But here in Sarasota and in Florida men having sex with men accounts for 75.8% of HIV/AIDS cases. Get the picture? Less than one percent of all men are causing over 75% of HIV/AIDS cases.
Perhaps the most deadly man in Florida is one who is homo/bi-sexual, is an IV drug user and is promiscuous.
What is also sad is our youth are being dragged into this "lifestyle" as Valerie Jarrett, adviser to President Obama stated. According to The FDOH fact sheet HIV/AIDS Adolescents (ages 13-19) andYoung Adults (ages 20-24), "In Florida 15% of new infections of HIV are among persons under the age of 25. [From] 2007-2009, 736 HIV cases were reported for ages 13-19 and 2,006 HIV cases were reported for ages 20-24.A total of 3,833 persons aged 13-24 were living with HIV/AIDS through 2009, as of 12/31/09."
Our youth are suffering by being exposed to a lifestyle and behaviors that are dangerous. Time for some loving non-violent peer pressure from class mates, fathers, mothers, friends, extended family, co-workers, and the community at large. Government cannot solve this problem, only you and I can.
Time to MAN UP!

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