HIV/AIDS is NOT a Gay Disease

Danny Pintauro just recently revealed that he is HIV positive, which he was diagnosed in 2003.  Most of you may remember him from Who's The Boss? (1984-1992) as Jonathan Bower, Angela's (Judith Light) son.  He admitted that he was using drugs at the time and did not use protection.  He realizes his mistake and he is the one that has to live with that decision for the rest of his life.

However, upon reading the comments in some articles posted on the Internet, I was dumbfounded by the views people were expressing.  Most of the comments were hateful and discriminatory.  The majority said that he was gay and that was his punishment.  They also mentioned that it was a gay disease, which God gave to the LGBTQ community to get rid of them.

If this disease is a "gay disease" then why did the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report in 2010 that gay men's HIV/AIDS new cases increased by 12% and another group's (not affiliated with the LGBTQ community) new cases increased by 44% during the same time frame? (CDC, 2010).

I cannot wrap my head and heart around the fact that we are in the 21st century and many people are still connecting HIV/AIDS with the LGBTQ community.  Gay people are not the only one's who are irresponsible.  Every person on this earth makes bad choices concerning sexual activity and protection.  If gay people were the only irresponsible ones in sexual conduct, then why do many heterosexual people continue to be diagnosed with STD's (including HIV/AIDS)?

We are in the new millennium people!  It is time to wake up and realize that we are in this together.  We cannot fight something if we do not have support from every person without prejudices, discrimination, and 30 year old thinking.  HIV/AIDS is a disease that effects life on planet earth.

Resource

CDC (2010). HIV/AIDS. http://www.cdc.gov.