June 8, 2009

Same-Sex Marriage Bans Linked to Uptick in U.S. HIV Cases

Bans on same-sex marriage in the United States may be linked to an increase in new HIV infections, according to a new study conducted by economists at Emory University in Atlanta. Researchers estimate that banning same-sex unions raises the domestic HIV rate by four cases per 100,000 people.

“Intolerance is deadly,” said Hugo Mialon, assistant professor of economics at Emory and coauthor of the study alongside fellow Emory researcher Andrew Francis. “Bans on gay marriage codify intolerance, causing more gay people to shift to underground sexual behaviors that carry more risk.”

During the study, researchers used data from the General Social Survey, which has recorded the mindsets of Americans over the past four decades. Findings show that a widespread increase in tolerance toward the gay community from the 1970s to the 1990s cut HIV cases by one per 100,000 people.

“Laws on gay marriage are in flux and under debate,” Francis said in a statement, referring to the recent decision by the California Supreme Court to uphold a ban on same-sex marriage. “It’s a hot issue, and we are hoping that policymakers will take our findings into account.”

NEW! Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

bigolpoofter, College Park, MD, 2009-06-18 11:12:24
While I don't disagree with the notion that intolerance fosters a lack of self-care that promotes HIV infection, the leap made by these researchers is dangerous and unscientific. It discounts the community-level change of sexual norms among Queermen during the intolerant years of Ronald Reagan, and it distances Queermen from their internal locus of control. Just because two series of events present similar trends does not mean there is a correlation.

Greg H, Davenport, FL, 2009-06-11 20:32:34
When treated like 2nd class citizens, many live down to the 2nd class status. Many gay people, particularly us older ones have been damaged by society and religion, and many of us fight to recover from the past. Some might even say that some of us suffer from a form of PTSD as a result of our treatment. We have the highest rate of smokers and alcoholism. It’s time to stand up and demand 1st class citizenship.

Mario561, West Palm Beach, FL, 2009-06-08 19:34:18
I've always been gay. Now I am gay and hiv+. Throught these last 35 years I've had the great opportunity to travel wide throughout this country of ours. Let me tell you, the greater the town's homophobia even the greater untamed wild sex. Hello... ho! Is anyone listening? If those boys could tie the knot, they'd sure stay together! I've always hated the "hetero-model", but I sure wish I had been brought up with it so that I could have found the "man of my dreams" earlier in life.