11.18.09
St Louis Adult Entertainment: Politicizing STD’s
The increase of syphilis cases among gay communities is worrisome, since the chancre could increase the possibility of HIV transmission.
The big public health question here is: Would gay marriage cut down the amount of dangerous sex in the male gay community? Would same sex marriage encourage monogamy in the more conservative parts of the gay community, or would it just mean a tax break and a piece of paper without a change in behavior?
But another troubling fact:
* Syphilis rates among women increased 36 percent from 2007 to 2008.
So it’s not just gay men who don’t tell their partner they have an STD.
Some of this comes from contact with prostitutes, but a lot of it seems to be spread by a few bisexual men who are promiscuous with women.