Hi there..

In an article today, it was reported that yet another study showed the links between discrimination and the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Discriminatory laws contribute to spread of HIV/AIDS: report
Drew Singer at 1:15 PM ET

[JURIST] Laws criminalizing homosexual activity are contributing to the spread of HIV and AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the findings of a study announced Wednesday by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The study, "Legal environments, human rights and HIV responses among men who have sex with men and transgender people in Asia and the Pacific," commissioned by the UNDP and the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM), was presented at the International AIDS Conference held this week in Vienna. Among its findings were that laws against public disorder and vagrancy were often used exclusively against homosexual men and transgender people. Additionally, other legal provisions are used in an arbitrary manner to infringe on the rights of homosexuals, creating an environment where HIV treatment efforts are obstructed. Jeff O'Malley, Director of UNDP's HIV Practice elaborated:

Repressive legal environments institutionalize discrimination, limit funding and in effect obstruct the participation of men who have sex with men and transgender people in protecting themselves and their families, friends and communities from HIV. In the context of HIV and in the context of human rights, we must continue to vigorously defend and promote rights based HIV, health and development policies and programme responses - this necessitates working to remove punitive laws and discriminatory practices.

The report noted, however, that there is a rising awareness of the need to address this segment of the population among policymakers, leading to national strategies to deal with the growing problem.

I think it's much broader an impact.

As long as there are discriminatory laws in effect, making many of us feel, to some level or another, disempowered to take care of our health and our partner's health, some of us will continue to make unsafe choices. As long as we are told that we're not good enough, by the laws of the land and the religious and political leadership, we will feel less good about ourselves and more inclined to take chances that put us at risk.

When we grow up being told that what we secretly know we are is a hated and sinful people, we grow up with varying levels of self-hatred or shame. That is fed when we become young adults and start to fully grasp how many things are legally blocked from us being a part of, such as marriage, the military, equality and protection at the workplace or housing, or even healthcare. We constantly see images and messages showing that our love is the wrong love and that we are doomed to a lonely miserable life until we die and then go straight to hell.

A lot of us break through these deceptions and limitations and find our self-worth and rightful place in society despite inequalities. But a lot of us don't. And to some degree, we don't think highly enough of ourselves to always keep our safety and welfare in mind. That low self esteem is a huge factor in higher percentages of suicides and addictions in the LGBT community.

This is why we must change the laws and thinking that has us living as second class citizens. This is not who we are and this is not where we belong. We are a thriving, important and profound people with incredible contributions to the world. We must be able to know that, to foster that and to live that. Otherwise, every new generation will question their worth and find less value in their lives.