Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press - Saturday, November 30, 1996 10:46:00 PM.
Will Lester, Associated Press Writer
But the community of glitzy shops, hip nightlife and worship of the body beautiful has been stunned by a study that shows its AIDS infection rate among gay men is one of the highest in the country -- and the number practicing unprotected sex is startling.
As hundreds prepared for Sunday's "White Party" at an estate on Biscayne Bay, gay activists handed out pamphlets and put stickers in bathrooms urging a change in sexual behavior -- a step toward waking up a community in denial.
"Now the eyes of the world are focused upon us, not because of our renaissance, but because of recent findings that we have one of the highest rates of HIV in the world and a community that hasn't responded by practicing safe sex," said Robert Galante, the owner of a gay nightclub.
The South Beach survey of 157 gay men was conducted this year by Dr. William Darrow, who helped discover the spread of AIDS in the 1980s.
Of the 87 men between the ages of 18 and 29 who were surveyed, one in every six is infected with HIV, the AIDS virus. Of 70 men age 30 and above, two of every five have the virus.
The most shocking result, however, was that three of every four men surveyed had unprotected sex in the past year, according to the survey released Nov. 20 at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in New York.
By comparison, one in four gay men in San Francisco had unprotected sex over one year, said Dennis Osmond, an epidemiologist at the University of California-San Francisco who conducted a similar study in 1994.
Darrow, a professor at Florida International University, said recent reports of medical developments in the fight against AIDS may be behind the amount of unsafe sex in South Beach and elsewhere.
"Significant numbers of gay men may believe that there is a cure," Darrow said. "One hypothesis is that gay men are reacting to this bit of news by throwing caution to the wind."
Some locals say South Beach is seen as kind of a "fantasy island," where tourists from all over the country come to lose their inhibitions and leave their cares behind -- even their fears of AIDS.
"They come to South Beach for the sunshine and the sex, drugs and rock and roll," Galante said. "The tourists leave a lot of their inhibitions behind."
Galante moved to South Beach about a year ago after living in New York and Fort Lauderdale. He was shocked by the nonchalant attitudes about the disease, even though the overall AIDS rate in Miami and Fort Lauderdale ranks behind only New York, San Francisco and Newark, N.J.
"When I came to South Beach and looked around, I said: `What the hell is going on here?'" Galante said. "We have a lot of lost time to make up. The focus needs to change."
961130
AP961119
Copyright © 1996 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1996. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1996. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .