Petrelis Files

(An ad from the SF DPH, demonizing syphilis patients
as explosive devices.)

SF Debate: HIV Ads,
Serosorting = Stigma or Prevention?

Ten months ago I attended the monthly meeting of the SF Human Rights Commission's LGBT committee and asked that the members examine HIV and STD prevention messages and social marketing campaigns from the health department and its local service organization partners.

It's taken a while, but the human rights commission tomorrow will hold a one-hour debate the ads and their effect on gay men, and the potential for the campaigns to create or reinforce stigma towards people with AIDS or STDs.

I wish the commission provided more than a one-sentence description of the debate on Tuesday, including the names of the people who will speak either in favor or opposition, not to mention what evidence will be presented regarding the effectiveness of prevention ads, but the commission's agenda omits those things.

In any case, if you're a gay man and concerned about the HIV ads and how social marketing campaigns are conducted in San Francisco, please attend the meeting and add your voice to the debate. There's a lot to discuss and I hope the meeting is just one of many in 2008 addressing HIV prevention in this city.

The January 15 meeting of the human rights commission's LGBT committee starts at 5:30 pm, and will take place at the commission's office, located at 25 Van Ness Avenue on the 8th floor.

From the commission's web site:

Agenda

January 15, 2008

Item 4. Panel Discussion: HIV-Related Public Health Campaigns, such as Serosorting: Prevention or Stigmatization 60 min.

From the commission's minutes of the March 20, 2007, LGBT committee meeting:

Item 5. Presentation by Michael Petrelis regarding DPH Viagra campaign – discussion and possible action item:

Michael Petrelis said that he’s been concerned about Dr. Jeffrey Klausner with the S.F. Department of Pubic Health’s STD Control Unit for a number of years. In 1999 a public health ad regarding syphilis described people with the disease as “walking, ticking time bombs,” as dangerous things. He feels that this adds stigma to people with the disease and those who are at risk for contracting it, especially sex workers. He’s afraid that this would create barriers for people with syphilis in receiving care.

He also referred to an article printed in The Washington Monthly in 2000 in which Dr. Klausner was quoted as saying that people with HIV and AIDS need to be quarantined, that club goers need to be tested for party drugs, and that sex establishments should be closed. He points out that Dr. Klausner had supported a lawsuit against Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra.

Also in February 2007, the Bay Area Reporter printed an editorial in which they said that many gay activists have major issues with Dr. Klausner’s repeated attempts to stigmatize gay men for leading irresponsible sex lives. Mr. Petrelis feels that this stigmatization drives people away from health care.

He would like to see the Commission weigh in on these proposals and ads and point out that it is not good public health to convey negative messages and images for sex related diseases. He expressed his disappointment that others in the STD Control Unit, particularly LGBT people, did not attend tonight’s meeting to talk about the thinking behind the ads.

Commissioner Chung said that Dr. Klausner was invited to attend tonight’s meeting to respond, that he was unable to attend because he’s currently out of town, but he sent an email with attachments explaining his position. She added that there are things we can/cannot do within our purview: we cannot tell another person or office how perform their job, but it is our responsibility to constructively articulate our concerns.

Mr. Petrelis entertained questions from the Committee.

Mr. Brinkin suggested that the Committee either take a more in-depth look at this subject or request that the Commissioners write a letter of concern to the Health Commission about the possible effects these ad campaigns have on one of their constituent communities. Ms. Ulrich asked that the Committee focus on the issue of stigmatization rather than the scientific facts of high-risk behavior and correlations of it.