Health and Society

Do You Know What Is Worse than Monkey Pox, Homophobia

Many believe monkeypox is a gay man’s disease

Homophobia

It is alive and well in 2022. The only reason Covid-19 didn’t become a ‘gay man’s disease ’was that it spread like wildfire at the onset and it was mostly the elderly and those with comorbidities who were its first victims.

But that didn’t stop even the CDC from issuing statements like this one:

According to a report released in February 2021 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the chances of contracting a severe case of COVID-19 appear to be higher for American adults who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual than for heterosexuals. — Source, AARP

Monkeypox outbreak

How are outbreaks found?

One way health officials find outbreaks is through public health surveillance. By routinely gathering reports of illnesses, they know how many illnesses to expect in a given time period in a given area. If a larger number of people than expected appear to have the same illness in a given time period and area, it’s called a cluster. When an investigation shows that ill people in a cluster have something in common to explain why they all got the same illness, the group of illnesses is called an outbreak. — CDC

WHO declares monkeypox a global emergency with cases reported in at least 70 countries, making it a public health emergency of international concern.

There have been more than 20,000 cases reported worldwide in over 77 countries. Deaths have been reported mostly in Africa, and they need the vaccines more than anyone else.

With deaths now being recorded in Brazil, Spain, and India, it has become a race to get the vaccines in countries where there is a growing outbreak. Unlike Covid-19, vaccines are already available. The same ones used to combat smallpox have been proven to be effective to stop the spread of monkeypox.

Monkeypox isn't a gay man's disease

It is true that the first reported cases outside of non-endemic countries came from men who were reported to have sex with men at rave parties held in Spain and Belgium.

What is not true is that monkeypox is a gay man’s disease or that gender identity determines if you will get sick from it or not.

The real outbreak is misinformation

Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news are far more dangerous than any virus known to man. One can only look back at how people were too afraid of the Covid-19 vaccines, and even blamed Bill Gates for the virus.

Seriously, that was debunked a long time ago. A false witch hunt was made by the anti-vaxxers. A noisy bunch of people who by their actions may have contributed to more unnecessary American deaths as communities needed the vaccines for herd immunity.

Homophobia on social media

He is a famous TV personality in the Philippines. He tweeted ‘Chickenpox is less severe and the virus is airborne. Monkeypox is sexually transmitted, usually M to M.’ but it has since been deleted. (See screenshot)

It is everywhere not only on social media but in IRL (in real life) conversations, a friend told me about what he heard in his office.

Yesterday a friend of mine told me of his officemates talking about monkeypox, and they all think the first confirmed case in the Philippines must be gay, then another person said because there are a lot of LGBT Filipinos.

I also keep on seeing and reading the same stuff and sentiments on my social media feeds. And as always, any chance that bigoted people can display their homophobia on Facebook they would jump on it, even if it also shows their ignorance, and making jokes about the LGBT community, they can also spark fear and misinformation on social media.

Like this post which also has some racist undertones.

Tucker Carlson, a right-wing host on Fox News, ran a poll to change the name of monkeypox.

Why shouldn't we be surprised by the results?

Of course, his fans are mostly bigoted American white males, and we know why they came up with the name — ‘Schlong COVID.’

Final words

Let us make no mistake that it is true as far as the WHO is concerned the LGBT community is at high risk.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday recommended that gay and bisexual men limit their number of sexual partners to protect themselves from monkeypox and help slow transmission of the rapidly spreading virus.

The WHO’s monkeypox expert, Rosamund Lewis, said men who have sex with men are the group at the highest risk of infection right now. About 99% of cases are among men, and at least 95% of those patients are men who have sex with men, Lewis said.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it is crucial for public health authorities to engage communities of men who have sex with men to reduce transmission of the virus and take care of those infected, while protecting human rights by fighting stigma and discrimination. — Excerpt, CNBC

But alongside their concern is also a reminder from the WHO chief,

“The stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus and can fuel the outbreak. As we have seen with Covid-19 misinformation, and this information can spread rapidly online,” the WHO chief said.

As one friend commented on my Facebook post,

I’m loving their angst.

Anyone can get monkeypox. You don’t need to have sex with a gay man to get it, and once you catch there is almost certainty that in one to two weeks you would get better.

Disclaimer: Please don’t take this as a piece of medical advice, it is best to see a doctor if you feel any symptoms or if you think you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for monkeypox.

The chance of bigots changing their views is dim and unlikely.

Bigotry and homophobia are far much worse than any disease including monkeypox. And couple it with misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, the world is headed for a disaster.

Thank you for reading.

Sources WHO declares monkeypox a global emergency amid surge in cases

WHO recommends gay and bisexual men limit sexual partners to reduce the spread of monkeypox

Here are some of my stories, all complimentary.

👉The New Monkeypox Outbreak Isn’t a Gay Man’s Disease — Free Reading.

👉Ricky Martin Denies Charges of Incest and Can Spend the Rest of His Life in Jail If Found Guilty — Free Reading.

👉Clothes Optional My First Nude Beach Experience, Not as Bad as Adam Sandler’s — Free Reading.

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