that's because men have more sex and also because gay dudes use their butts
if they were properly protecting themselves, that would not be the case
"So why does this problem exist? No compelling evidence suggests that Blacks have any special genetic susceptibility to HIV. There are many factors that have been cited asreasons why African American men and women have relatively high rates of HIVinfection and AIDS. The two most convincing explanations are the high rates of poverty and sexually transmitted diseases. The 2000 U.S. Census found that one in four Blacks lived in poverty, and studies clearly have shown a strong link between poverty, limited access to quality health care and the risk of HIV infection.For Black women, the consequences of not having effective primary and secondary prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the inequities that exist related to poverty, gender, relationships, education and socioeconomic status can result in:
- Having unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex; or having unprotected heterosexual sex with injecting drug users and/or men who have sex with men or who have been in prison.
- Limited self efficacy and coping skills, i.e., communication, resistance, accessing services, and diminished self-image
- Resistance to learn one’s HIV status because of fear and the belief that HIV will not affect them personally.
- Little or no discussion about HIV with family, friends, and peers, and a lack o fpeer and community support
- Perceived safety within relationships
- Family stressors that can result in increased depression and deteriorating health status"
gay dudes are only one factor out of several
some more
"
HIV in DC
DC has the highest rate of HIV in the country, with at least 1 in 20 individuals testing positive for the virus.
Despite all evidence to the contrary, most people assume that HIV/AIDS only affects gays, drug users or the young and reckless. In the District, where the rate of new infections due to heterosexual contact is outpacing any other means of transmission, these myths carry a death sentence.
By the numbers:
37.4% of new cases are through heterosexual contact, followed by 25.8% through MSM.1
The majority of new cases are through heterosexual sex.
90.7% of new heterosexual cases are black (58.8% are women, 41.2% are men).2
The black community in DC is overwhelmingly affected by this crisis –especially black women.
63% of newly diagnosed heterosexual cases are
30-49 years old.3
Everyone needs to know the risks and use protection.
Looking at the numbers of all those diagnosed, a more telling picture emerges.
While the majority of HIV/AIDS positive people living throughout the district are homosexual men (4,692 men 57.7% of whom are black) – the next highest demographic group are
heterosexual women with
2,102 individuals
92.4% of whom are black.4
While the HIV/AIDS epidemic has impacted homosexual men the longest, heterosexuals – mostly black - are quickly making up the difference, with women leading the way.
So, what can these numbers teach us?
This crisis isn’t about sexual orientation - it’s about education.
Fighting the myth that ‘it couldn’t be me’ and giving people, particularly in our community of SE DC, the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of practicing safe sex is vital. Additionally, there must be a racial and gendered component to any approach - this means working directly in communities and tackling historically challenging issues, like women’s power over their sexual relationships.
Each new diagnosis means a life cut short – fighting this epidemic won’t be easy, but every prevented case is worth it."