CDC report: ‘Stigma’ contributes to high transgender HIV infection rate
A new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report says
that societal "stigma" is at least partially responsible for the
staggeringly high percentage of transgender men who have HIV/AIDS.
According to the CDC, more than one-in-four
(28 percent) men who identify as women - "transgender women" - are
infected with the HIV virus, the precursor to AIDS.
The report found that less than half of those
infected report their HIV status.
"Individual behaviors alone do not
account for the disparate HIV diagnoses among transgender people," states the
report. "Many cultural, socioeconomic, and health-related factors
contribute to these diagnoses and prevention challenges in transgender
communities."
Among those factors are "receptive anal
sex without a condom or medicines to prevent HIV ... sex with multiple
partners, and exchanging sex for drugs or money."
However, according to the CDC, other
"factors that contribute to the high rates" are social
"stigma" against being transgender, as well as
"discrimination" and "lack of familial support."
"Many transgender people face social
rejection and marginalization that excludes them from participating and
functioning in society," says the report. "Lack of legal recognition
of gender identity can result in the denial of educational, employment, and
housing opportunities. Some transgender people who experience poverty rely on
sex work to meet their basic survival needs."
At least one expert questioned the CDC's focus
on "stigma," and the way the report appeared to downplay the actual
physical causes of HIV infection.
“The CDC seems to be avoiding the obvious when
they declare, ‘Individual behaviors alone do not account for the disparate HIV
diagnoses among transgender people,’” Family Research Council Senior Fellow
Peter Sprigg told LifeSiteNews. “Since HIV infection is a physical condition
caused by a virus, which is not transmitted through casual contact, ‘individual
behaviors’ are the only thing
that can account for these high rates of infection.”
Dr. Sprigg said that high HIV risk behaviors
include “biological males (regardless of self-willed ‘gender identity’) having
sex with other biological males (particularly anal intercourse), promiscuity,
prostitution (now euphemistically referred to as 'sex work'), and the use of
needles to inject hormones or silicone.”
Dr. Sprigg also said Christians who warn
people about risky behavior do not deserve blame when such behavior results in
HIV infection. “It turns logic on its head to suggest that those of us who urge
people to avoid these high-risk behaviors altogether are somehow responsible
for the consequences of those behaviors, because our position creates ‘stigma,’
‘discrimination,’ ‘social rejection,’ or ‘marginalization.’”
The government report also found that minority
transgender men have disproportionately higher HIV infection rates, with a full
56 percent of black transgender men HIV-positive.
“I do agree with the CDC that ‘[t]here is a
need for effective interventions that address the multiple co-occurring public
health problems in transgender persons,’” Dr. Sprigg told LifeSiteNews.
“Chief among these problems, however, are the mental health issues that
often precede or accompany ‘gender dysphoria.’”
“Treating these underlying issues would far
more compassionate (and perhaps even do more to reduce HIV rates in this
population) than offering hormones, surgery, or ‘transition’ to an objectively
false ‘gender identity,’” he concluded.
The Obama administration has made promoting
transgender issues a priority in the past month, with the appointment of a
transgender activist to a faith advisory council, as well as the release of new
guidance telling schools to implement a variety of measures aimed at
transgender students.
