"Preliminary" CDC Report Says Gay/Bisexual Men 50-times More Likely to be HIV-Positive

By Jim Burress

Atlanta, GA – Before doctors knew what HIV was, they referred to the virus as "Gay Cancer" because it overwhelmingly affected gay men.

More than 25 years later, AIDS activists say the CDC's finding that gay and bisexual men are 50 times more likely to contract the virus is the first time the government has given a concrete view of HIV's effect on that population.

"The CDC has never been willing to issue rates before. So we would only have absolute numbers, and whether these numbers are going up or down."

Walt Senterfitt is an epidemiologist and board chair of CHAMP, the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project.

"Starting with the facts and the truth, and then digging down into why these particular facts might be the case, is the best way to generate good public policy."

The CDC declined to be interviewed for this story, saying the statistics are preliminary.

Jim Burress, WABE News