Petrelis Files

(Why does this down arrow scare HIV prevention groups into silence?)














SF AIDS Groups' Websites Silent on HIV Decline

Late last week, HIV experts at the San Francisco Department of Public Health announced that new infections were declining in the city, and, as is their custom, the department didn't make any of their data about the declining rate available on the web and no press release was issued.

The data and release, if such things from DPH were shared, would give the gay community a better understanding of how San Francisco arrived at the new infection rate, but transparency has never been a strong suit of the DPH when the issue is HIV epidemiology.

Instead of giving the gay community access to the data, we're dependent on the mainstream and gay press, such as the SF Chronicle, the Bay Area Reporter and the LA Times, to obtain DPH's data, decipher it and write up stories explaining the statistical estimates.

The falling HIV numbers are, in my opinion, a worthwhile development, one that should be noted by all prevention and service organizations, but, so far, not one such organization has posted an announcement about the drop on their web site, nor have they put forward any praise to the gay community for this decline.

Yes, I'm like an old broken vinyl record, continually calling for AIDS groups to acknowledge HIV infections dropping, and to give positive strokes of gratitude for the safe sex behaviors leading to the decline to the gay community, which could use all the positive reinforcement possible to keep infection rates going down.

Mine is a lone voice requesting HIV service organizations, the same ones that are always prepared to wail and moan when there's even an incremental rise of HIV or any sexually transmitted disease, not to mention ready to launch hostile, aggressive social marketing campaigns berating gays for lapses in safer sex activities.

Don't just take my word about no HIV group in San Francisco noting the drop or praising gay men -- visit the groups' sites and see for yourself how silent they are about declines.

As noted, the DPH site lack any data or info on the decline, but what about the HIV Prevention Planning Council, a CDC-mandated and -funded body, that is a collaboration among federal, state and local government prevention experts, with their partners in the nonprofit sector? Nothing on the HPPC site.

Our local AIDS czar hasn't said anything on the city's official site. (Okay, to be fair, the current czar doesn't maintain a page on the city site, and the official page for SF's AIDS czar still lists Willie Brown as mayor!)

Magnet, the gay sexual health clinic in the heart of Castro, is quiet also.

The largest local provider of an array of services, the SF AIDS Foundation, has nothing to say either on its opening page, or the page for HIV stats.

What about the many HIV components of the University of California San Francisco? Not the AIDS Health Project, which performs thousands of HIV tests annually.

Same goes for the university's Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, and of all the AIDS part of the school, I would really expect this center to say something, anything!, about the new estimate.

Silence is also the order of the day at the AIDS Research Institute.

Same goes for the Stop AIDS Project, which prides itself on being the group most dedicated to halting new HIV infections. Nothing on their opening page, even though I would expect them to loudly and proudly hail the drop as proof their programs are successful. I did, however, learn about their upcoming used gay porn drive and fundraiser at local restaurants.

Interestingly, in their news release archive from November 2005, Stop AIDS heralded a drop in reported speed use.

Okay, nothing wrong with calling attention to this, but the name of the group is not Stop Speed Project. Sure, speed may play a part for some men in how their engage in sex and protect themselves, but if this group can put out a release about a drop in meth use, it damn well ought to also be able to issue an announcement when HIV infections fall.

I fear that the ear-splitting silence is because the groups just don't know how to spin positive developments, not when they've spent decades perfecting their alarming messages demonizing gay men and gay sexuality. It also seems more than plausible HIV nonprofits fear reducing or announcing any reductions jeopardizes their funding, and executives' salaries, which, if true, reveals how out of whack the priorities are at these groups.

Call me naive, but I think it behooves HIV groups to talk about the lowered infection rate, urge gay men to keep the rates on the downward slide, and to go to federal government funding agencies and say the following:

"Our prevention programs and social marketing campaigns are bringing decreases of new HIV infections. Increase our funding to keep driving down the number, reducing the number of people who eventually develop full-blown AIDS."

C'mon, San Francisco AIDS organizations -- end the silence about the HIV declines.