Chicago Tribune - June 26, 2008
Judith Graham, jegraham@tribune.com

The number of gay men diagnosed with HIV/AIDS is steadily rising, even as infection rates among heterosexuals and drug users have slowed.

That's disappointing because gay men have been at the center of the HIV/AIDS epidemic for more than 25 years yet current efforts to stem infections in this population aren't working.

The CDC admitted as much Thursday in a report noting that that HIV/AIDS diagnoses among MSM - men who have sex with men-- climbed 8.6 percent between 2001 and 2006.

"HIV prevention services that aim to reduce the risk for acquiring and transmitting infection among MSM and link infected MSM to treatment must be expanded," the agency wrote in the report.

Of 214,379 new HIV/AIDS infections reported in 33 states during the period, 46 percent - by far the largest percentage - occurred among gay guys.

Why these men continue to have unprotected sex, a primary avenue for transmitting HIV/AIDS, is a much-debated question. Denial undoubtedly plays a part, as does a certain exhaustion with safe sex and the use of stimulants that reduce inhibitions.

The problem has been recognized for years, yet still there's a surprising paucity of research on effective approaches.

Late last month, an analysis by The AIDS Institute found that only four of 49 HIV/AIDS prevention strategies highly recommended by the CDC target gay men and none were directed at black or Hispanic gay men.

"One of the misperceptions that people have is that we have a sufficient number of well-researched interventions for preventing HIV/AIDS in [gay men] but that's not true," said Richard Wolitski, acting director of HIV/AIDS prevention at the CDC.

He said the federal agency has a number of initiatives under way, including a research project examining gay men who are also substance abusers, several research studies focusing on gay black and Hispanic men, and a plan to train up to 200 community organizations in a new, highly effective program that reduces unprotected sex among gay black men.

But others say far more still needs to be done.

"The bottom line here is we are woefully under-serving gay men" in the fight against HIV/AIDS, said Jim Pickett, director of advocacy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

What's required are services and public outreach that address the underlying reasons why gay men fail to take sexual precautions, including depression, other psychological problems and substance abuse, Pickett said.

His organization has joined with the Test Positive Aware Network, the Center on Halsted, and the Howard Brown Health Center in a new program called Project CRYSP that tackles these issues. Included is www.LifeLube.org, an Internet site devoted to gay men's relationships, spirituality, and physical, mental and sexual needs. Also, several forums are being held and outreach workers are offering information online at sites where gay men congregate.

Of course, encouraging testing for HIV/AIDS remains a priority. Of an estimated 40,000 to 42,000 people with HIV/AIDS in Illinois, about 10,000 don't know they're infected, Pickett said.

The sooner people learn they're HIV-positive the better, since treatments can now extend patients' lives for years and allow them to function "almost normally," said John Peller, director of government relations at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

So, err on the side of testing. And remember, the CDC recommends that all sexually active gay men get tested at least once a year. The AIDS Foundation offers a Web-based resource to help find a testing site near you.

Here's a list of locations where you can get tested over the next few days:

June 27 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Sankofa A Safe Child Initiative | South Side Health Center | 10420 S. Halsted St.

June 27 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Progressive Institute of Health Education and Training Breakthrough Urban Ministries | 402 N. St. Louis Ave.

June 27 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Sankofa Inc. | 4800 W. Madison

June 27 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Trinity United Church of Christ | 400 W. 95th St.

June 28 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Jackson Park | 6400 S. Stoney Island

June 28 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Fathers Who Care, Greater | Westside Development, Danny K. Davis Homan Square 333 W. Arthington St.

June 28 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Sankofa Inc. | 2800 W. Madison

June 28 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Genesis Community Services | & Luck Care Center | 1701 W. Monterey

June 28 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. | South Side Help Center | Jackson Park

June 29 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Rock Coordinating Committee | ROCKS Pride Event | Chicago Lakefront | Montrose & Lake Shore

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Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2008. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

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