Rise in HIV Risk Blamed on Gay Characters in TV Soap Operas!

[fountainhall]

In one of its madder moments, the Deputy Governor of the BMA has given a press briefing in which he blames the rising popularity of gay characters portrayed in TV soap operas as encouraging a rise in HIV cases!

The trend is mainly attributed to the influence of gay characters in TV series, movies or other media with homosexual-leaning content, he said. As a result, Mr Thaweesak said being gay is viewed as being is viewed as being fashionable, compelling gay men to imitate their behaviour and "open themselves more quickly".

He said this has resulted in gay men being particularly at risk of contracting HIV.

The Deputy Governor went on to say that young men are "undereducated" when it comes to HIV, "while they are living in a society increasingly tolerant of same sex relationships."

Instead of blaming soap operas and gay-themed movies featuring teenage love between gay boys, the BMA would be far better using its clout to ensure that there is greater nation-wide education on the ease of HIV transmission. This was much more common 20 years ago until the first Thaksin government cut back the sex education budgets.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... ked-to-hiv

[Gaybutton]

Instead of blaming soap operas and gay-themed movies featuring teenage love between gay boys, the BMA would be far better using its clout to ensure that there is greater nation-wide education on the ease of HIV transmission.

That is right and it should not be limited to HIV, but should include education about all STDs.

For example, one boy recently asked me for bus fare to return to his home province. He was convinced he had HIV and wanted to go home to die there with his family. He had no idea that medications are available to fight HIV.

It turned out that it was syphilis, not HIV. That has now been dealt with, but it was still an STD. He knew he should have used a condom, but his customer was some farang moron who wanted to bareback. He learned the hard way that his life is more important than extra money, which he probably sent home to Mama anyway rather than even keeping it for himself. He was lucky that he contracted a curable STD rather than HIV.

That's only one example. I can't even imagine how many similar stories must be out there.