Why was the aids epidemic gay men

Since the epidemic began, almostMSM in the U. Gay men of color are at particular risk. But while historically MSM in the United States have always constituted the largest proportion of AIDS cases, they are the only group for which risk appears to be increasing. Among black gay men, the crisis is especially dire.

Both incidence and prevalence are disproportionately higher among black MSM than any other risk group. Particularly among young black MSM, increasing HIV incidence signals an urgent need for new measures to confront the epidemic. We are at a crossroads. Current HIV incidence trends suggest that the epidemic among gay men could take a turn for the worse, reversing decades of efforts and threatening a new generation of young men.

For more than 30 years, the AIDS crisis has represented an incomparably grave threat to gay men, especially gay men of color. Recently, epidemiologic trends suggest that the epidemic may be worsening, particularly among young black gay men, threatening to reverse progress made to date and heralding a new catastrophe.

Confronting this challenge will require measures that go beyond traditional risk reduction interventions, including programs to improve the health and well-being of gay men generally, and specific interventions to help HIV-positive gay men learn their status, connect to appropriate health care services, stay in care and maintain treatment adherence, and prevent transmission to others.

Young gay men must be a priority. While there are clearly unmet research needs related to ending the epidemic among gay men, there are also concrete steps that can be taken now. Consistent with its role throughout the epidemic, the LGBT community must assume a substantial leadership responsibility to renew the fight against AIDS among gay men, while successfully addressing the crisis will require the active participation of virtually every stakeholder, including government agencies, health care providers, public health officials, and insurers.

There is no time to lose.

LGBTQ History Month: The early days of America's AIDS crisis

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