[pattiewrites]

Originally Posted by mama2riley

I am no expert by any means. I've read numbers out there that 78% of homosexuals are affected by STD's. Just because a couple is monogomous when they get married doesn't mean they weren't before that and I'm sure a good number of that 78% would possibly get married some day if the laws do allow. If you look at medical stats homosexuality is an unhealthy lifestyle in general. They have historically accounted for the bulk of syphilis, gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, the "gay bowel syndrome", tuberculosis and cytomegalovirus cases. I don't see marriage as controlling that at all but rather promoting it by making it an acceptable lifestyle.

All promiscuous people are at risk for these diseases, whether gay or straight. The fastest growing segment of the population to be currently contracting AIDS is heterosexual teens and people in their early 20s. Do you have a reliable link to that statistic? According to the Family Research Council, the number is 36%, for gay MEN. They don't have a stat for heteros, but the Institute of Public Health says that 33% of heterosexuals have STDs in their medical history, which isn't much less. A medical commercial says there is a 1 in 5 stat among heterosexuals for herpes alone. For homosexual women, the number is nearly non existant. Lesbian women have an almost 0 risk of AIDS, as long as they are not bi and are never with a man. Again, I wonder if this speaks to the male factor?

[mama2riley]

No I don't have a link, it's just a number I've come across several times in reading on the Internet and magazines, more than once as it stuck in my mind. It could be outdated like I said I'm no expert. I realize that these diseases affect both groups of people but the information I have seen shows a disproportionate ratio of these diseases appearing within the gay population. When you consider only about 1-2% are gay, but account for over 50% of the AIDS cases in the US...there is something wrong with that.

You could be onto something with the male factor...

[mama2riley]

The CDC doesn't have a whole lot on same sex stats. They mostly record data by gender or by ethnicity, although there is some info on there about AIDS in male-male sexual contact. Here is just one example from 2005 of a huge increase in an STD in male partners - 70% increase in 5 years! That's huge. I would guess this is the trend with several diseases in correllation with the continued "acceptance" by our culture of homosexuality.

Rising Rates Driven Largely by Cases among Men Who Have Sex with Men
The rate of P&S syphilis among males has risen 70 percent over the past five years (from 3.0 per 100,000 population in 2001 to 5.1 per 100,000 in 2005), driving overall increases in syphilis rates for the nation. Several sources of data suggest that increased transmission of P&S syphilis among MSM may be largely responsible for these increases. Over time, the disparity between male and female case rates has grown considerably. The P&S syphilis rate among men is now nearly six times the rate among women, whereas the rates were almost equivalent a decade ago. Additionally, prior CDC research has estimated that more than half of P&S syphilis cases in recent years have occurred among MSM (an estimated 64 percent of cases in 2004, compared to 15 percent in 1999). 14
CDC is currently working to collect more complete data on the gender of sex partners of individuals diagnosed with syphilis. This will enable CDC to more accurately assess and track the impact of syphilis among MSM.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/trends2005.htm

Patti I couldn't find the information you shared online...would you mind sharing a link I'd like to read what you are looking at. Thanks!

[allybama]

Originally Posted by mama2riley

I would guess this is the trend with several diseases in correllation with the continued "acceptance" by our culture of homosexuality.

*Sigh*

I don't, personally, see any sort of problem with tolerance.

[siageah]

I'm having a difficult time understanding what STDs have to do with gay marriage. Should states not offer marriage and the benefits and protection included with that to people with STDs? Who are at risk for STDs? Should promiscuous people not be allowed to marry? Young people? Should the only people allowed to marry be STD free and lesbian? I know this all sounds a bit funny (and heck, I haven't had my first cup of coffee yet so funny is what I am all about right now ) but seriously..what does one have to do with the other?

[twinzplus3]

I think it's a tangent a little. Did you read back further? We were talking about whether or not the gay community in general terms promoted and/or celebrated promiscuity. I think that's how the STD's came in.

[siageah]

Originally Posted by twinzplus3

I think it's a tangent a little. Did you read back further? We were talking about whether or not the gay community in general terms promoted and/or celebrated promiscuity. I think that's how the STD's came in.

I read it, I guess I am still at a loss at what promiscuity has to do with it as well. Heterosexuals can be very promiscuous too, as I know none of you are disputing, so I guess I am just not making the connection between promiscuity and state law.

[katesbirdworld]

I don't see a problem with gay marriage. Love is love. Your heart picks who you want to be with. If thats what makes them happy thats what they should be allowed to do.

[mcmama]

True, I do agree that gay marriage will reward a non promiscuous lifestyle, and actually promote it. I think the issue here is that at "gay pride" events, which are frequent rallying points for support for gay marriage, you see celebration of all sorts of promiscuous behavior which if straight people celebrated they would be called all sorts of evil names. And no one says anything about it. It's part of the "culture".

That's the point of confusion. And it does cause concern.

At gay pride, you will also see all sorts of information booths for safe sex, sometimes resources for straight spouses (to encourage them to tell their wives and stop lying, or understand what she is going through), usually resources for parenting, and a lot of politics. And in some areas, a lot of in your face display of sexually suggestive behavior. When we are talking about a monogomous understanding of marriage, the side by side celebration of all of this seems a bit strange.

[twinzplus3]

Why? We should all be allowed to do what makes us happy? I definitely am not comfortable with that line of reasoning.

Siageah, I had said a few pages ago that I think that legalizing homosexual marriage would contribute to the decay of the family unit bc IMO, the gay community on a whole celebrates promescuity. . .not monogamy. I don't see how legalizing same sex marriage would limit or discourage promescuity in a culture that esteems it. (And yes, yes--speaking in general terms. . .lots of gay monogamous couples, etc., etc., etc.)